The opposition’s High Negotiation Committee said that it was first time the HNC delegation to Geneva talks discussed with the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in “an acceptable depth” the issues of the future of Syria, political transition, and other issues set out in the Geneva Communiqué of 2012.
Head of the HNC’s delegation to Geneva Nasr Hariri said: “We agreed with the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on a provisional date for the next round of negotiations. Today we further discussed the issue of political transition and ways to enforce international resolutions and the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 which call for achieving a political transition.”
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations that began in Geneva on February 23, Hariri said: “We are closing this round without a clear result … but I can say this time was more positive.” He stressed that the HNC will always be “ready to engage seriously in negotiations and to resume it.”
With regard to the fight against terrorism in Syria, Hariri said: “In my country there are militias and mercenaries; you can see their faces; you know their names; you can see their knives; and hear their sectarian chants. They are killing children and slaughtering Syrians just like ISIS is doing, driven by purely sectarian motives.”
Hariri reiterated the opposition’s commitment to fighting terrorism. “We are committed to fighting all forms of terrorism, including most notably the terrorism being practiced by Bashar Al-Assad, the militias of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the Hezbollah Militias, ISIS, and AlQaeda. Our commitment is being translated into deeds, not just words, as is evidenced by the battlefields and the numbers of fallen heroes.”
The fight against terror requires immense, serious, and coordinated international efforts, Hariri stressed. He added that the Free Syrian Army is the real partner in the fight against all terrorist groups.
Hariri said that until the next round of talks in Geneva, the HNC will continue to hold extensive consultations with de Mistura about political transition as this creates the appropriate climate to discuss other issues. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
