DFA confirms talks on Syria, but no asylum for Assad

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday that Syrian President Bashar Assad was seeking  Philippine support in finding a political solution to the conflict in his country.

But the DFA denied that Assad was asking for asylum.

“There’s no truth to the report that he’s seeking asylum and financial help,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

Reliable diplomatic sources earlier told The STAR that amid the bloody civil war in his country, Assad has turned to the Philippines for help in looking for a “political solution” to the conflict and among the options being explored are asylum for the president or financial help for drained Syrian national coffers.

The DFA said that Syria informed the Philippines about its proposal for a political solution to end the conflict through reforms and dialogue.

“This is what countries do when they want to pursue programs, they want to inform the other countries and that would also entail seeking possible support for their proposal,” said Hernandez.

He said Assad’s trusted political and media adviser Bouthaina Shaaban did not raise during a meeting with President Aquino last Sunday asylum for Assad in the Philippines or financial help for Syria.

Hernandez did not comment on Assad’s regime reportedly eyeing the Philippines as intermediary with the United States, the European Union or the Arab League.

“President Aquino just reiterated his gratitude for the assistance they have accorded to us in expediting the repatriation of our OFWs,” Hernandez said.

He said the political solution to the Syria conflict that Shaaban discussed during a meeting with Aquino included reforms and dialogue among the relevant parties.

“What happened was she handed a letter to the President. Then in that short meeting, she discussed with the President their solution to the crisis,” he said.

Malacañang also said yesterday that the Philippines is not committing to any political solution to the Syrian crisis and is focused on ensuring the welfare of the Filipinos in that country.

The arrival of Shaaban in Manila last Sunday and the meeting with President Aquino were unannounced.

“I don’t know if it was kept a secret,” Hernandez said.

It was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario last Wednesday. Malacañang also verified the report yesterday.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda refused to say anything about political asylum for Assad, insisting the DFA had said this was never discussed.

Asked if the Philippines would be open to the possibility of granting asylum to Assad, Lacierda said, “Again, that will have to be discussed with DFA.”

“I cannot answer that one way or the other. Because it was not discussed in the first place, the idea of providing asylum,” he said.

Asked about the Philippines’ position on the “political solution” being sought by Syria, Lacierda said, “We have not ventured into that primarily for one thing, we have several thousands of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) there.”

Meanwhile, DFA officials said the Philippines remains friendly to Syria but is not likely to accommodate a request for help.

“The Philippines will know the consequence. We will not accommodate like President Assad seeking asylum here, maybe in Iran but not here, because of our close ties with the US,” one official said.

Another official said the Philippines will also have to weigh its actions because of the countries that host large number of Filipino workers. – With Aurea Calica