|
Trump last month
issued an executive order, since suspended by a U.S. district
judge, that temporarily barred travelers from seven mostly
Muslim countries including Syria, as well as imposing an
indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees.
"It's against the terrorists that would infiltrate some of the
immigrants to the West. And that happened. It happened in
Europe, mainly in Germany," Assad said in the interview with
Europe 1 radio and TF1 television which was recorded on Tuesday
in English.
"I think the aim of Trump is to prevent those people from
coming." It was "not against the Syrian people", he said.
Trump said his order, which triggered protests at home and
abroad and confusion at U.S. and international airports, was
intended to prevent militants from entering the United States.
His administration is challenging the suspension ruling, which
was upheld last week by appeal court judges.
Assad's government has often criticized Western states for their
support for Syrian rebel groups, all of which are regarded by
Damascus as terrorists, and has warned that such backing will
lead to militant attacks around the world.
Trump has not yet set out a clear policy on Syria but has
indicated he could cut U.S. support for insurgent groups and has
said he wants to mend ties with Russia, whose President Vladimir
Putin is Assad's strongest international ally.
Asked directly whether Trump's immigration policy was the right
one, Assad did not answer. He also said he had not yet seen what
Trump's Syria policy would be.
(Reporting By Angus McDowall; editing by John Stonestreet)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
