Member of the Syrian Coalition George Sabra said that the course of the Geneva talks indicate there is a broad international consensus with regard to the nature of a political solution in Syria, stressing that the issue of Assad’s departure is a non-negotiable demand for the Syrian opposition.
Sabra, who is also deputy head of the opposition’s negotiating delegation in Geneva, pointed out that Moscow has recently begun to go along with Washington on the issue of a political solution in Syria and the departure of Assad.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Monday confirmed that the CIA Director John Brennan visited Moscow in early March “to emphasize with Russian officials the importance of Russia and the Assad regime following through on their agreements to implement the cessation of hostilities in Syria.”
The CIA spokesman added that Brennan “also reiterated the U.S. government’s consistent support for a genuine political transition in Syria, and the need for Assad’s departure in order to facilitate a transition that reflects the will of the Syrian people.”
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Syromolotov told journalists in Moscow that “it’s no secret that Brennan was here.” He added that the visit was not linked to Moscow’s decision to start partial withdrawal of military forces from Syria. (Source: Al-Arabiya)
