'They don’t want to negotiate under duress because they think it is a sign of weakness. But when they feel strong, they don’t want to negotiate because they don’t feel they need to.'<blockquote>“The regime is not capable of changing.… It is so barren of initiative that it cannot come up with any creative thinking,” says a former Syrian official speaking on condition of anonymity. “They don’t want to negotiate under duress because they think it is a sign of weakness. But when they feel strong, they don’t want to negotiate because they don’t feel they need to.”
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'..uptick in coordination among Assad's regional rivals..' April 21, 2015</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>
(Syria) - '.."the system" that did not allow for reform.' - '..grown beyond the power of the managers of these institutions..''..states emerging from authoritarian rule .. a monumental undertaking..'</blockquote>