Al Bahra: We Reject the Intervention of Any International Party in Choosing Geneva II Participants

Mr. Hadi Al Bahra, a member of the Syrian National Coalition’s Political Committee, said that the National Coalition “rejects the intervention of any international party in deciding who will attend Geneva II as that will be determined solely by the National Coalition which represents the broadest cross-section of opposition revolutionary and political organizations inside and outside Syria.” Bahra pointed out that the Coalition is open to the all the diverse groups within Syria and engages in broad dialogue with the full multitude of political, revolutionary, civilian and military forces. He also said that “92 countries recognized the legitimacy of the National Coalition, as did a United Nations resolution which called for the recognition of the Coalition as a representative of the Syrian people able to convey the demands of the Syrian people regarding transition.” Bahra added that “the Coalition has issued a clear statement regarding its position on Geneva II and the political transition, which is an international platform to start negotiating. An attempt by any party to hold meetings prior to the Geneva II Conference under the auspices of international actors is a departure from the framework of Geneva II itself and a deviation from the intended purpose of the conference.” Bahra’s remarks came in response to the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in which he said that “international parties are trying to put obstacles in front of the Geneva II,” and that the ‘opposition’ and the Assad regime have to agree on the transitional phase, pointing out that “the agreement on transition in Syria is an internal affair.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)