Syrian President Bashar Assad thinks that the situation in Syria proved that the West was dishonest.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik)�� Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik that Syria's most important lesson the country learned was that the West was not honest.

"The most important lesson we have learned, but�I suppose we knew it all along, is that the West is not honest. Western countries are dishonest. They are pursuing a policy far removed from�the principles of�international law and the United Nations. It is impossible to�rely upon�the West to�solve any issue. The better friends you have, the quicker and with�minimal losses a decision is reached. Therefore, every statesman should be able to�choose friendly states that will stand by�him during�crises," Assad said.

The president said he did not wish any other country to�experience what Syria had to�go through�and stressed that any manifestation of�fanaticism should be avoided.

"We had to�endure inhumane suffering. However, we live in�a world where there is no international law or morality in�politics at�present. Anything can happen anywhere on�our planet. But what I want to�say, based on�our experience in�Syria, is that, first of�all, any manifestation of�fanaticism, either religious, political, or obsession with�any idea�� is destructive for�society. It is necessary to�avoid fanaticism when building societies. It is the duty of�the state, as�well as�the responsibility of�all the existing elements of�society and every citizen�s duty," Assad said.

He added that in�a critical situation, any country should rely on�the people living in�it and any course of�action to�resolve a crisis should take into�account people's customs and traditions.

"Another thing is, if this or any other crisis should happen in�any country, the first thing any statesman should know is that the people are the country�s defenders. And when choosing a plan of�action to�resolve the crisis it is necessary that it meets the customs and traditions of�the nation, its history and its essential aspirations. The solution cannot come from�overseas. Friends can come to�you from�abroad to�help, as�it has happened today: from�Russia and Iran. However, if there is no internal will and good relations between�the people and the state, it is impossible to�find a solution," Assad said.

Syria has been torn by�a proxy war since�2011, as�government forces have been fighting opposition groups and extremists operating in�the country. The West has been vocal about�wanting Assad to�step down�as the Syrian leader, a view not shared by�Moscow.

As a result of�the war, 13.5 million Syrians have been left in�need of�humanitarian assistance, according to�UN figures. Over 6.5 million are internally displaced, while 4.8 million have fled the country among�hostilities.

By Sputnik News