Syria Files - Minor comments on the Interview

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The Syria Files

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# The Syria Files

Thursday 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files – more than two million emails from Syrian political figures, ministries and associated companies, dating from August 2006 to March 2012. This extraordinary data set derives from 680 Syria-related entities or domain names, including those of the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information, Transport and Culture. At this time Syria is undergoing a violent internal conflict that has killed between 6,000 and 15,000 people in the last 18 months. The Syria Files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and economy, but they also reveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another.

## Minor comments on the Interview

Email-ID | 2103339
Date | 2010-06-02 10:38:45
From | l.omar@mopa.gov.sy
To | sam@alshahba.com, l.omar@mopa.gov.sy

Comments on the Press Interview Such an enjoyable dialogue. I have enjoyed it immensely. You may kindly find hereunder certain trivial comments. They are not essential, nor directly linked to the essence of your beautiful wisdoms; however, they can leave
some sort of a final touch, if you allow me. Here you are, 1. After President Obama came to power, there is* some improvement After President Obama came to power, there has been some improvement 2. The main interest of this Administration is how can* we
re-launch the Peace Process The main interest of this Administration is how we can re-launch the Peace Process or (how to re-launch the peace process) 3. We have Security Council Resolutions that mention very clearly the need of* Israel to withdraw from
these lands We have Security Council Resolutions that mention the need for Israel to withdraw 4. The question that we asked to* many officials was: what is your strategy? The question that we asked many officials was: what is your strategy? 5. The United
States have* been failing and failing in solving problems The United States has been failing 6. If you do not have the trust of Syria, how can Syria depends* on you as arbiter? How can Syria depend on you? 7. We have to start from* improving the relations
We have to start with improving the relations Although in another context, you have got it absolutely correct where you said: Stability starts with good relations 8. If it is* only the president, we could blame the president! If it were only the
president, we could blame the president! (usually we use the structure “if it were” with untrue assumptions) 9. We have a Syrian draft* We have a Syrian draft resolution in the Security Council since 2003 10. As politicians, we do not waste our time with*
blaming or condemning Hizbollah As politicians, we do not waste our time blaming or condemning... (no need for a preposition) 11. It is like if you talk* about a chapter in a book It is like talking about a chapter in a book 12. That will not happen when
you talk about one factor while you have the main factor, which is occupation is* in place That will not happen when you talk about one factor while the main factor, which is occupation, is in place Or: That will not happen when you talk about one factor
while you have the main factor, which is occupation, in place 13. He’s been in his position for a year and a half and he couldn’t do anything in* peace He’s been in his position for a year and a half and he couldn’t do anything about peace (we do
something about something, not in* something) 14. The people who elect such an extremist government they* do not want peace The people who elect such an extremist government do not want peace (no need for ‘they’; we cannot have two subjects in one
sentence) 15. They have to learn that only peace can protect their country* (for Israelis) Is it really their country? Wouldn’t it be clearer if you’d said: They have to learn that only peace can protect their security 16. There has been a consistent drop
of the use of the indefinite article: - They have to be impartial* arbiter (an impartial arbiter) - The Syrian Israeli agreement is important step* (an important step) - Peace treaty is like permanent* cease-fire (a permanent cease-fire) - Maybe you have
embassy* but not normal relations (an embassy) - They talked about two-states solution* (a two-states solution) - Maybe in different* way than the authority is doing (a different way) - The people who elect such extremist* government (an extremist
government) - You do not make compromise* (you do not make a compromise) - We have only one condition which is international* condition (an international condition) On the other hand, I very much was impressed by some nice quotes and by the use of
idiomatic English: 1. We have learned to turn the tide 2. The elephant is still in the room (for the occupation is still there) 3. You can never say, “Now is the time for peace.” It is always time for peace! 4. This is where we can bury the hatchet I hope
this was useful, and thank you for your time. "No man is an island entire of itsef. Anyman's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind. Therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee!" John Donne