(VOVworld) – Significant disagreements arose on the first day of the Geneva II peace talks, January 22. At the opening ceremony, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem called the opposition “traitors” and “foreign agents”. He said only the Syrian people can decide the fate of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
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World leaders meet in Montreux, Switzerland, for the Geneva II conference on Syria
(Photo: US News) |
The Syrian opposition replied with a firm voice. President of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba said he will not negotiate on the question of Bashar al-Assad remaining in power, because the aim of the conference is to establish a transitional government. He called on the Syrian government to sign immediately the Geneva I agreement, which asks Bashar al-Assad to cede his power to the transitional government.
The US expressed its support for the Syrian opposition with Secretary of State John Kerry insisting that the Syrian president will not be part of the transitional government.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister asked for an immediate cease-fire in Syria to pave the way for humanitarian activities. Saudi Foreign Minister al-Faisal called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Syria.