CRI听力:Only Syrians Can Decide the Leader's Future: Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a new public statement, saying his future as the leader of the country can only be decided internally.

" If the people of Syria say stay or not, the Syrian people are the only ones that have a say on this matter. Therefore, all that has been said about this point - in particular since the start of the crisis and until today four years later - does not concern us."

The comments from Assad are being viewed as a dismissal of U.S Secretary of State John Kerry's suggestions over the weekend that negotiations to end the civil war in Syria should include the United States.

But at the same time, Assad says he would welcome any "sincere" change in attitude toward his government.

Kerry, speaking this past weekend on the Sunday talk shows in the US, went on-record saying the US government is likely going to have to begin talking with the Assad administration in Damascus if it ever wants to see an end to the fighting.

The US government has held the position that Assad has to leave office before any talks to end the conflict can include the United States.

Well over 200-thousand people have been killed in the four-year conflict in Syria.

Another 11 million have been forced to flee their homes.