Head of the Syrian Coalition’s foreign mission in France Munther Makhos said that the Syrian opposition’s stance on the departure of Assad has not changed, reaffirming the Syrian opposition’s rejection of any role for Bashar al-Assad in a transitional period.
Makhos pointed out that the ongoing meeting of the Coalition’s General Assembly will be followed by a meeting of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) in the Saudi capital Riyadh in the next few days.
Tabled for discussions during the General Assembly meeting is the formation of a new interim government by Jawad Abu Hatab who will form a scaled down government to be based inside Syria. Members of the General Assembly will discuss plans and programs submitted by candidates to the new interim government.
Makhos went on to say that the HNC will discuss a proposal put forward by the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura for the resumption of negotiations in Geneva towards the end of July after they had been suspended for nearly a month and a half. Makhos stressed the importance of the improvement of the situation on the ground in Syria as a prerequisite for the resumption of negotiations.
The 29th regular meeting of the Coalition’s General Assembly began today in Istanbul. The meeting will discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria; the field situation; the formation of a new interim government; the expansion of Turkmen representation in the Coalition, and the situation of refugees stranded on the Jordanian border. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Alsharq Alawsat)
