BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Assad told a Lebanese Druze delegation Thursday that Syria will not abandon its policies and sovereignty no matter how strong the Arab and international pressures are, the state-run National News Agency reported.

“Syria is strong with its people and the support of the sisterly and friendly peoples.

Syria is capable of overcoming the crisis and it will not relinquish its positions, principles and sovereignty no matter what the pressures are,” Assad told the delegation led by Aley MP Talal Arslan.

The delegation expressed solidarity with “Syria’s leadership and people to defeat the conspiracy aimed at dismembering Syria and the region.”

Meanwhile, Druze Spiritual leader Sheikh Nasreddine al-Gharib, who was part of the delegation, said Syria will remain an “invincible fortress,” adding that it will emerge out of the crisis “stronger than before.”

Assad thanked the delegation for their “great national attitude emanating from keenness on brotherly relations and cooperation between Syria and Lebanon and their rejection of the conspiracies and attempts at foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Syria and Lebanon.”

The Arab League last week imposed economic sanctions on Syria after it refused to accept a League peace plan to end the eight-month-long unrest there.

The Arab sanctions come on top of political and economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU on Syria over its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters demanding Assad’s ouster.