Member of the Syrian Coalition and former Vice-president Hisham Marwa said the Assad regime showed no flexibility during the previous rounds of Geneva negotiations, adding that the regime’s negotiating delegation evaded engaging in direct negotiations with the opposition.
In an interview with the UAE Al-Bayan newspaper on Thursday, Marwa said that the Assad regime insisted on holding what they call a “Syrian-Syrian dialogue;” reiterated it would not sit down with some opposition figures at the negotiating table; and did not show a clear response to the 12-point document submitted by the UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.
“The Syrian opposition, on the other hand, expressed positive attitudes by declaring adherence to the political process in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Communiqué of 2012,” Marwa added.
Marwa pointed out that “the Assad regime is trying to circumvent political transition and to empty the political process of any value. Any talks would be useless if they were not centered on discussing political transition.”
Marwa went on to say that “the Geneva talks must lead to a real and complete political transition by forming a transitional governing body with full powers, not a quasi-national unity government that was proposed by the Assad regime.”
“Everyone with blood on their hands must not be given any role to play in the transitional period or in Syria’s future,” Marwa maintained.
Marwa expressed confidence that Syria’s future will be an outstanding model for political transition. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Al Bayan Newspaper)
