Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
of war-torn Syria said the "factors are not yet in place" to launch peace talks with his opponents, in a television interview broadcast on Monday.
"No time has been set, and the factors are not yet in place if we want (a U.S.-Russian peace initiative dubbed Geneva 2) to succeed," Assad told Al-Mayadeen television.
"Which forces are taking part? What relation do these forces have with the Syrian people? Do these forces represent the Syrian people, or do they represent the states that invented them?" the embattled leader asked.
The Syrian president expressed during the interview his willingness to run for re-election, saying he did not see a reason why he should not.
Asked whether he would run, Assad said: "My answer depends on two factors. The first is the personal desire, and the second is the will of the people.
"Regarding the first point, the one related to me personally, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't run in the next election."
Anybody takin' bets on who's gonna win the next Syrian election?