President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif and members of the political committee met with Martin Longden, Great Britain’s special envoy to Syria on Monday evening. Both sides discussed the Assad regime and allies’ daily massacres against civilians in Idlib and Ghouta as well as the latest developments of the political process.
Seif said that the information being circulated about the planned Sochi conference suggests that the conference would not serve the political process. He stressed that any solution that involves Assad’s survival in power will not restore stability to the country or the region.
Seif said that the Syrian people will not accept Assad’s survival, stressing that for Syrians this issue is unthinkable. He wondered: Is accepting Assad’s survival logical or even moral?
Seif pointed out that Moscow failed to apply enough leverage on the Assad regime or force it to engage in serious negotiations in Geneva. “On the contrary, Russia stands by the Assad regime and supports its ongoing military operations against civilians and the FSA forces in Idlib and the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta.”
For his part, Longden reaffirmed his country’s continued support for the Syrian opposition, stressing the need for the Syrian opposition to set out a unified position towards the Russian-proposed Sochi conference and all other issues. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)