Abdul Basit Sida, Syrian Coalition member, said today that “Russia must persuade the Assad regime to accept the terms of Geneva I, which is the basis for Geneva II.” Sida points out that when regime officials talk about the possibility of Assad’s reelection and holding a referendum on the outcome of Geneva II, they break the agreement, which was ratified by the Russian government through the UN Security Council resolution No. 2118. This strongly suggests that the Assad regime is the side that is setting conditions for participating in the conference.” Sida’s statement comes in response to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday expressing “regret that the Syrian Coalition continue to put preconditions for participation in the conference.” Sida went on: “The Assad regime is trying to divert the focus of the conference to the subject of the fight against terrorism despite the fact that terrorism is a result of the situation caused by the regime itself. Assad is simply trying to restore the legitimacy he lost through offering to cooperate with the Syrian Coalition to fight terrorism.” Sida also states that “it was clearly stated that Geneva II is based on the terms of Geneva I, which requires the formation of a transitional governing body with full.” Furthermore, Sida stresses that “Russia and Iran have been trying to dissuade the Syrian Coalition from attending the conference because they are unwilling to discuss the implementation of Geneva I Communique because it would be the end of the Assad regime.” Sida also said that “a positive outcome requires positive preludes.” Sida’s last remark echoed media leaks that France, the United States and Britain stress that the priority in Syria must be “to continue the work in different direction in order to topple the Assad regime and the establishment of a new democratic, pluralistic state, and not to focus on the fight against terrorism and radical forces.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
