The Syrian opposition’s High Negotiation Committee (HNC) announced late Friday that it would join the Geneva talks after receiving “UN assurances.” The HNC added it would “take part in the political process to test the seriousness of the other side through discussions with the UN team.”
In a statement released on Friday, the HNC stressed that its decision to take part in the Geneva talks “was deigned to help implement international commitments and meet humanitarian demands as a prelude to the negotiating process as well as to bring about a transitional process through the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers.”
The statement pointed out that “the decision to participate was made after the HNC received support from friendly and sister countries, especially during a meeting held yesterday between the committee and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir who made it clear Saudi Arabia supported the HNC’s decisions.”
The HNC also said that “the decision was made after reaffirmations by the US Secretary of State John Kerry about his country’s support for the full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254, especially with regard to the humanitarian issues. UNSCR 2254 resolution calls for ending the blockades, releasing detainees, and immediate cessation of indiscriminate bombing of civilians.”
The statement made it clear that “Kerry reiterated his country’s support for bringing about a political transition in Syria through the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012.”
The HNC emphasized that its decision to participate in the Geneva talks “was based on the support it received from a number of foreign ministers of sister and friendly countries in addition to a letter from the United nations Secretary-General who reaffirmed support for the implementation of humanitarian commitments, particularly Articles 12 and 13 of UNSCR 2254.”
The statement concluded noting that the decision to participate “was also based on a response from the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura” to a letter the HNC sent earlier. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
