BEIRUT: Syrian President Hafez Assad warned the Arabs today [March 28] against what he called the “danger of fragmentation” and the “calamities and tragedies” it could lead to. “If we triumph in our war against fragmentation, then we have triumphed in all our wars,” Assad said. “If we eradicate the danger of fragmentation, then we have eradicated all dangers.”

Assad was addressing a mass rally in Libya marking the 5th anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops. The rally was held at the former British base of Tobruk, which has been renamed the “Gamal Abdel Nasser Base”... .. “Fragmentation is one of the left-overs of imperialism,” Assad said. “It brought numerous disasters in the past and, if it continues will lead to more calamities and tragedies. …”

“The Syrian people, while fighting a ferocious battle for Palestine and against the Zionist aggression, extend their hands to all their brothers for co-operation, solidarity and joint defence against the dangers facing this nation,” he said. … “We pledge [to] you that we will go on struggling without hesitation for the realisation of Arab unity. …” President Gaddafi … was present… .

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2025