A senior official in the French presidency said that his country has not changed its positions regarding Assad’s departure from power, adding that the possibility of changing this position would be futile because French President Francois Hollande understands that Assad cannot be part of the solution in Syria.
The senior official emphasized that France’s discourse on Syria is “clear and firm,” adding that President Hollande would urge his American counterpart Barack Obama-during his upcoming visit to Washington on Tuesday-to share France its position regarding the Vienna meetings on Syria.
He also stressed that France did not give up calls for Assad’s departure at the end of the negotiations, as political transition cannot last forever, explaining that this is what Hollande will say to his American counterpart on Tuesday.
The Syrian Coalition reiterates that any political solution in Syria must conform to the Geneva Communique and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, stressing that Bashar al-Assad must not be permitted to have a role in any stage of political settlement.
Secretary of the political committee Anas al-Abda said that “we will not accept the survival of Bashar al-Assad for a single day in the transitional phase,” stressing the need to find a political solution acceptable to the Syrian people in accordance with the Geneva I Communique.
Abdah points out that the Syrian people will not forget the crimes committed by the Assad regime against children and women for nearly five years. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Al-Hayat Newspaper)
