Political committee member Nasr al-Hariri welcomes the United State and Saudi Arabia’s reiteration of calls on Assad to step down, commending Saudi Arabia’s firm position insistence on excluding Assad and his clique from Syria’s future.
In a joint statement released after the meeting between President Barack Obama and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, both leaders stressed the importance of reaching a lasting solution to the Syrian conflict based on the principles of Geneva 1 to end the suffering of the Syrian people, maintain continuity of civilian and military government institutions, preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and ensure the emergence of a peaceful, pluralistic and democratic state free of discrimination or sectarianism.
The two leaders reiterated that any meaningful political transition must include the departure of Bashar al Assad who has lost legitimacy to lead Syria.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said after the meeting that Assad should not have any role to play in Syria’s future as he is responsible for the killing and displacement of Syrians and for the emergence of ISIS.
Vice President of the Syrian Coalition Mustafa Osso said that talking about attempts to rehabilitate Assad or to partner with him in the campaign against terrorism is a mere illusion and deception. He added that the Saudi position, backed by Arab countries and Turkey, has foiled the Iranian attempts to make Bashar a bargaining chip in its expansionist project. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
