Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission Nasr Al-Hariri stressed that the current round of UN-led negotiations in Vienna will test the Assad regime and its backers’ seriousness to engage in the political process and implement international resolutions.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Hariri said that “the current round of negotiations will test the seriousness of all parties in the political process.” He added: “We are here today to follow up what we have already talked about, namely the intra-Syrian talks to reach a just and real solution under the auspices of the United Nations. We are keen to reach a political solution in the country.”
Hariri welcomed “the renewed commitment of international partners to supporting the UN-led negotiations,” pointing out that the Commission has recently held several meetings in various countries, the latest of which was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.
Hariri said that the messages the Commission has received during its international tour over the past week, which included the United Nations, the United States, France, Britain, Turkey and Russia, were “clear in that there was an intention to support the Geneva process aimed at bringing about a political transition in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254.”
“We are waiting for this intention to materialize by bringing the Assad regime to the negotiating table,” Hariri said, adding that the “Syrian Negotiations Commission is ready to discuss all the details of UNSC resolution 2254 to achieve political transition, including constitutional issues and elections.”
Hariri underscored that the Commission has “a genuine desire to implement UNSC resolution 2254 and the Geneva Communique of 2012 calling for the initiation of a transition stage with full powers, the drafting of a new constitution, and the holding of fair elections.” He noted that the current round of talks would focus on constitutional issues.
“If the United Nations is serious, all parties must abide by the primary goal of negotiations by implementing UN Security Council resolution 2254. We have never heard from the Assad regime that it is going to engage seriously in these negotiations.”
As for the Commission’s position of the so-called national dialogue conference to be held in Sochi, Hariri pointed out that they did not have enough information about the conference and that they need to read the developments, especially over the next two days. He stressed that any decision taken by the Commission will not contravene the Syrian people’s demands and aspirations. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
