Syria regime ex-spokesman breaks silence

Beirut, Feb 13 (AFP) Former foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said today he has a neutral stance on Syria's 23-month conflict, as he broke his silence for the first time since leaving the country. "I left Syria because the polarisation in the country has reached a deadly and destructive stage... I left a battlefield, not a normal country, and I apologise to those who trusted my credibility and for leaving without prior notice," he said. Makdissi, once one of the most recognisable faces of President Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime who disappeared from public view in December, made the remarks in an emailed statement. He stressed to AFP that he was now neither with the government in Damascus nor the opposition, which has been fighting to overthrow the Assad regime for nearly two years. "I joined no one; I am independent," Makdissi said, adding that he did not possess any state secrets and was not part of the decision-making process in the regime. "The goals of the popular movement are frankly legitimate - in principle and in essence - and have won the battle for the hearts, because all parts of society always stand with the weak and with the legitimate demands of the people. "But they have not won the battle for the minds, for many reasons that are common knowledge." The ministry announced on December 11 that Makdissi had taken sanctioned leave for three months following reports of the diplomat's resignation and speculation about his possible defection. But Makdissi blasted his pro-regime critics who "found the time to insult me and immediately accuse me of treason, without respect for the lives of the more than 65,000 Syrian martyrs." "I wish I could have stayed on Syrian land, but there is no longer room for moderation in this chaos," Makdissi said of the war that began as a popular uprising and steadily militarised under brutal state repression. Makdissi only said he was now staying "with honourable brothers who are assisting the Syrian people to make it through this humanitarian plight without discrimination". A native Arabic speaker and fluent in French and English, Makdissi conducted his thesis in London while working for the Syrian embassy. The Christian native of Damascus was called back to the Syrian capital soon after the uprising broke out in March 2011 to assume the post of foreign ministry spokesman and became known for his active Twitter account. The longtime Assad loyalist has since shied from the limelight and kept away from the opposition. (AFP) NKP NKP 02132244 NNNN