WEBVTT 00:00:00.435 --> 00:00:02.957 Well, in Syria, the president there has promised 00:00:02.957 --> 00:00:05.826 to consider reforms after a week of violent protest 00:00:05.826 --> 00:00:07.163 in the southern city of Daraa 00:00:07.163 --> 00:00:10.166 But that hasn't stopped protesters, who have called 00:00:10.166 --> 00:00:12.719 for country-wide demonstrations on Friday 00:00:12.719 --> 00:00:14.525 Thousands of the people were on the streets on Thursday 00:00:14.525 --> 00:00:17.585 to mourn people they say were shot during 00:00:17.585 --> 00:00:19.143 the government's crackdown. 00:00:19.143 --> 00:00:22.000 There are reports that Bashar al-Assad will speak to the nation 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.600 within the next few hours to try 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.495 to calm the situtation. 00:00:25.495 --> 00:00:28.080 Rula Amin joins me now from Damascus. 00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:32.680 Rula, as we say, the president expected to address 00:00:32.680 --> 00:00:36.080 his population. He has offered some quite substantial 00:00:36.080 --> 00:00:38.406 concessions, but they don't seem to be— 00:00:38.406 --> 00:00:40.680 or we don't know yet 00:00:40.680 --> 00:00:42.240 —whether they're going to have an impact 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.323 on the day's protests. 00:00:45.323 --> 00:00:48.321 Yes, it remains to be seen. However, we did speak 00:00:48.321 --> 00:00:50.421 to many Syrians, including the people in Daraa. 00:00:50.421 --> 00:00:53.332 And, the response to these measures is mixed. 00:00:53.332 --> 00:00:55.760 Now, the activists, and the hardcore opposition activists 00:00:55.760 --> 00:00:57.193 are very skeptical 00:00:57.193 --> 00:00:59.720 and they say these are just lip service, and 00:00:59.720 --> 00:01:03.000 won't change much. Others do give the president 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:04.575 the benefit of the doubt, and they say this 00:01:04.575 --> 00:01:07.315 is a good start. Let's give him some time. 00:01:07.315 --> 00:01:09.080 Maybe it will materialize. 00:01:09.080 --> 00:01:10.132 And, maybe there will be change in Syria 00:01:10.132 --> 00:01:13.317 without having, or forcing the people 00:01:13.317 --> 00:01:14.800 to go into the street. 00:01:14.800 --> 00:01:16.920 We have to remember, the protests have been 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:19.575 confined to Daraa despite seven days 00:01:19.575 --> 00:01:23.480 of very strong clashes, where dozens were killed. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.705 The capital remained quiet, 00:01:25.705 --> 00:01:28.200 and so have the rest of the Syrian towns. 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.295 Now, today, it's going to be a challenge 00:01:30.295 --> 00:01:33.972 and a test, both for the activists and the opposition, and the government. 00:01:33.972 --> 00:01:36.680 If the people take to the streets in other towns, 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:38.800 maybe the concessions are too late. 00:01:38.800 --> 00:01:41.699 If they don't, it means the president has managed 00:01:41.699 --> 00:01:43.760 to contain the crisis in Daraa, 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.400 and that some of the people, some Syrians at least 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.480 have bought his line, and are giving him time 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:51.897 and putting some faith in these new measures. 00:01:51.897 --> 00:01:55.960 But, the fact that the measures have been offered 00:01:55.960 --> 00:01:57.800 at all Rula, to put this into context for us, 00:01:57.800 --> 00:02:00.400 how surprising is that, given that this is a regime 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.160 which has a history of heavy handed brutal crackdowns 00:02:04.160 --> 00:02:06.840 on any kind of uprising? 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.659 Yes, six months ago, nobody would have dreamt 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:12.680 that these kinds of concessions would have 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:14.880 been made in Syria, but by a month ago it seemed 00:02:14.880 --> 00:02:16.626 very logical. 00:02:16.626 --> 00:02:18.680 Now, I arrived here on Sunday, and the minute 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:21.600 I arrived, it was obvious that both the people 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:22.806 the Syrian people and the government 00:02:22.806 --> 00:02:26.100 realize that change is coming to Syria, 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:27.428 and the government knows it cannot continue 00:02:27.428 --> 00:02:29.360 with its old ways. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:30.477 And, the president had made it clear 00:02:30.477 --> 00:02:33.270 he understands the need to reform 00:02:33.270 --> 00:02:34.880 and he will do it. 00:02:34.880 --> 00:02:37.320 The people want it now, they want it serious 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:40.120 they want it meaningful, and they don't want to wait. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.936 And, there's a race with time. 00:02:41.936 --> 00:02:43.551 Now, some people believe that the president 00:02:43.551 --> 00:02:45.960 himself wants to change, but he is surrounded by 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:49.766 a group of people, or the system itself, 00:02:49.766 --> 00:02:51.812 that's not allowing him to do what he wants to do. 00:02:51.812 --> 00:02:54.521 This is kind of giving him the benefit of the doubt. 00:02:54.521 --> 00:02:58.023 The protest in Syria, in Daraa, added more 00:02:58.023 --> 00:03:01.320 pressure on the government, and made the government 00:03:01.320 --> 00:03:02.960 feel that it's very urgent to act now 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:04.640 before it's too late. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:06.828 So, for now, it seems the president is keen 00:03:06.828 --> 00:03:08.560 to contain the crisis in Syria 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.735 and he's determined. 00:03:09.751 --> 00:03:11.960 People want to make sure he's also determined 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:15.474 to bring change to Syria, not just to contain the crisis. 00:03:15.474 --> 00:03:16.963 And, of course, we will be following 00:03:16.963 --> 00:03:18.949 the developments there with you Rula. 00:03:18.949 --> 00:03:21.800 Thanks very much indeed, for now Rulla, in Damascus.