Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz said that “the Geneva Communique must remain the framework and basis for any political solution in Syria, stressing that Assad should have no role to play in any transitional process during the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit being held in Riyadh today.
French President Francois Hollande, who attends the summit said that we are working with Saudi Arabia to help unite and support the Syrian opposition and push for a political solution on the basis of the Geneva Communique.
Spokesman for the Syrian Coalition earlier said that “the Syrian Coalition’s participation in the upcoming bilateral consultation meetings to be hosted by the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in Geneva aims to discuss the document of basic principles for a political settlement. The document, which was adopted and ratified by the Syrian Coalition and a number of Syrian opposition blocs, lays out a roadmap for a political solution in Syria.”
“The Syrian Coalition’s decision to attend the Geneva meetings was not unilateral, but was made after the Syrian Coalition consulted with a large number of representatives of rebel factions, civil society organizations and the revolutionary forces. After several consultative meetings, the parties to the meetings agreed on five key points for a political solution in Syria,” Meslet added.
“Most importantly, there is no solution without the toppling of the Assad regime, with all its symbols and security organs, and that Assad and his ruling elite should have no role in the transitional phase or the future of the country.”
“We also agreed to work to achieve the highest degree of coordination between the political and military forces of the opposition, and to protect independent national decision-making in coordination and cooperation with the allies of the revolution and its friends. We also stresses the need to stand firm in the face of any plans to split the country or to rehabilitate or reproduce the Assad regime, and that any solution to the conflict must be complete and encompass all aspects of the Syrian crisis,” Meslet added.
“The Syrian Coalition once again reiterates its openness to any political solution that achieves the Syrian people’s aspirations for freedom and dignity, ends the bloodshed, and initiates a transitional process. Assad and the ruling elite must be excluded from any future political process, whether in the short or long term, as Assad’s role in Syria has ended with the death of the first Syrian at the hands of his murderous regime.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
