Bashar al-Assad's Thank You Letter to the Leader

O Great Leader! While thanking you for your hospitality and kindness towards this humble servant, I would like to bring a few points to your attention: 1- I had heard that in dear Iran, sacrifices are made at the feet of guests. What a wonderful custom it is. However, that you were so gracious to me as to sacrifice the Foreign Minister and a newspaper for me left me embarrassed. I told Haj Qassem that I am not at all pleased to be a burden, but he insisted that the Leader of the Muslims of the world is not one of those people and believes that a guest is a beloved of God. I am overwhelmed to have been a beloved of your God. 2- I am glad that Mr. Zarif, who apparently is your Foreign Minister, has returned to work. Because usually, I do not follow up on many issues related to Mr. Zarif with Dr. Velayati and Haj Qassem. In any case, I feel comfortable with Dr. Velayati, especially since I am an eye specialist and he is a pediatric specialist, and in our free time, I examine him, and he examines me, and we keep ourselves entertained. 3. My wife, Asma, also sends her regards and expresses her gratitude that with your assistance and guidance, our family has been able to live again in the presidential palace in the heart of Damascus. 4. The gifts you sent have been opened. I do not know how to thank you on behalf of myself and the oppressed people of Syria. However, among the banknotes, there were some that were without corners, which unfortunately no shop in Syria accepts, and I present them attached to this letter. I think my Palestinian brothers and my dear brother Hassan Nasrallah know better how to spend them. 5. I was looking at the photos of our meeting. Truly, tears filled my eyes. The quality of your gaze at me in the photos was such that even Asma felt a bit jealous, and now she is in the room practicing a loving gaze inspired by you, the unique father. Especially when one of the advisors reminded me that unlike all your domestic and foreign meetings, you had used both of your blessed hands to embrace and greet me, I was deeply moved. I remembered a couplet from the famous Iranian-Syrian poet, Mawlana, who said: 'That dear one of mine, took hold of my neck, saying what do you want? I said, I want just this.'