Syrian President Bashar Assad condemned UN Security Council Resolution 1559, calling it a "mistake" and vowing to maintain close ties with Lebanon.

Speaking at a conference of Syrian expatriates in Damascus, Assad said: "Nowadays, people are living in a state of chaos, of wrong concepts and false idioms, which increase division among cultures and prepare for further wars and bloodshed.

"The international institutions, founded for the world's benefit and for achieving peace and justice, have been transformed into tools in the hands of the superpowers at the expense of smaller states to interfere in their internal affairs and bilateral relations, thus violating all principles, logic and international law. In this context, 1559 was issued by the Security Council.

"It was a surprise for many that the draft Resolution 1559 was presented to the Security Council. Syria is known for its constant support for the UN and its affiliated bodies, but this doesn't mean we don't criticize mistakes where there are any, particularly the double-standard policy when implementing those resolutions, or issuing resolutions out of the competence of the party that issued them or that contradict the UN Charter itself, including the recent resolution that was depicted as if it were issued to protect Lebanon's independence, on the grounds that its Constitution was violated.

"In fact, there is no relation ... between the resolution and the two arguments, and the resolution was not issued as a result of the extension of President Emile Lahoud's term. The resolution had been ready for some time, and is aimed at other objectives, very far from what it had been submitted for to mask the real objectives, mainly internationalizing the Lebanese internal situation with its meanings, namely Lebanon's return to the climate prevailing in the 1980's and the targeting of the Lebanese-Syrian relations, which are based on unity between both societies, and historic and geographic ties. These relations have overcome challenges thanks to the unity between both peoples, and the common sacrifices they made during various periods in time.

"The clauses of Resolution 1559 don't have anything to do with the issue of the extension or the presidential election. A simple example of that is the clause related to the militia, a clause that initially mentioned Hizbullah or the resistance. What does this clause have to do with the extension? As to the deployment of the army or the Lebanese authorities, what does that clause have to do with the extension?

"With time, it became clear the presidential election is but a title for this resolution, there is no link whatsoever between the resolution content and objectives, and the issue of the presidential election," Assad said.

"They spoke about the violation of the Constitution. How could there be a violation of the Constitution when constitutions are amended around the world, and maybe there are clauses in most constitutions to define the process of constitutional amendments ... these forces do not know the most elementary principles of the law," he added.

"They spoke about attachment to Lebanon, and that everything resulted from their keenness on Lebanon. The question is the following: What have these forces offered to Lebanon in the past decades, when that country was witnessing crises? I will mention two things offered by Western countries:

"In 1975, one country offered a ship to the Christians so that they leave Lebanon, and in 1990, another country offered an aircraft carrier to support a group that was rebellious against Lebanese legitimacy. Where was all this attachment at the start of the civil war when Syria entered in 1976 to save the Lebanese Christians who were massacred ... in the name of reforming the political system, justice, socialism and the progressive doctrine, where were they at that time?

"Imagine how the reform of the political system required massacring half the society. If they had wanted to reform the whole society, who would have remained? Nobody will be left, it would have been a reform with a people. At that time, the late Syrian President Hafez Assad was asked to postpone the entry of Syrian troops to Lebanon for two weeks only until the mission is completed, but he refused.

"Where were they in 1982 during the Israeli invasion when thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians were killed? Syria lost thousands within a few weeks, not months.

"Maybe they were condemning that from a distance, and where were some of the Lebanese who were throwing rice on the Israelis during the Israeli occupation from 1987 until the Israeli pullout from most Lebanese territories in 2000? They were not there," Assad said.

"Their attachment to Lebanon, its independence and democracy suddenly appeared.

"They spoke of Syrian domination of Lebanon ... We did not ask for any wealth, oil or electricity ... we took nothing from Lebanon. We gave blood. If we wanted to impose our hegemony, then why did we stage redeployments of our forces over the last five years? We have no interest in such domination.

"Finally, we ask what is the purpose of this resolution? Where are they taking the region with such resolutions, regardless of real or fake objectives?

"In the Middle East, we have become the heart of the volcano. In comparison, I would say Syria and Lebanon are the most stable countries in the Middle East despite these circumstances. Do they want to throw this region, with no exception, in the heart of lava inside the volcano? Hasn't the world learned? We have learned many lessons, but others have not learned that when the volcano explodes, is lava will hit close and far countries, superpowers and small countries, strong and weak countries. I think it is time we learned these lessons," Assad said.