In a speech launching the festivities for "Damascus – Capital of Arab Culture 2008," Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad called Damascus "the capital of the culture of resistance" and added that the culture of resistance is also the culture of creativity, because the freedom that it defends is a condition for creativity.
He added that Damascus opens its heart to those who come to it, but that its sword can be drawn quickly against those who seek to harm it.
Source: Al-Thawra, Syria, January 20, 2008
