While assuring that Syria will respect a UN resolution concerning destroying Damascus’ arsenal of chemical arms, President Assad stressed he would not step down.

While assuring that Syria will respect a UN resolution concerning destroying Damascus’ arsenal of chemical arms, President Assad stressed he would not step down.

In an interview with the Italian Rai News TV channel on Sunday, Assad said he would not leave his country “in the middle of the storm.”

The Syrian leader said his country would comply with the UN resolution, noting that the issue “is not about a resolution, in reality it is our own intention.”
"We joined the international agreement against the acquisition and use of chemical weapons even before this resolution was passed.”

"The central part of it is based on what we ourselves wanted,” he added.

"In 2003, the U.N. Security Council proposed liberating this entire region from these arms and declaring the Middle East a region free of chemical weapons. So it is obvious, we have to respect these conditions, it is part of our history," Assad said.
"We have to respect all treaties we sign."

When asked whether he thought of leaving stepping down, Assad answered he would if it guarantees peace and stability in the country.
“But there is the other question; would the situation be better? So, for me as president, so far, I have to be in my position because when you have a storm, you don't give up your position.”

However, he noted that it is not for him to make the decision. It is the decision of the Syrian people who can talk through a ballot box, the Syrian leader added.
“I should obey whatever the Syrian people want,” he said. “There's no other way in any country. I mean, it's not the decision of any group in Syria; it's the decision of every Syrian citizen.”

Concerning the 2014 elections the president said “if I feel that the Syrian people want me to be in that position, I will run. If not, I will not.”