Egypt's door-knocking mission to London: Bolstering investment, sustainable growth    Israel strikes Gaza shelter killing 22 people    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    New Era Education partners with Moon Hall School to establish Egypt's 1st special needs learning centre    Builders of Egypt 2024 to unleash export potentials for Egyptian key industries on Sept 22    NACDW, NTA to oversee WUF12 volunteer efforts in Egypt    UNGA: Egypt's Al-Mashat meets with UNDP, outlines new development strategy    UNGA 79: Africa takes centre stage as leaders seek solutions for a troubled world    Egypt launches rapid response in Aswan as dozens exhibit gastroenteritis akin symptoms    Egypt recommits to peacemaking on International Day of Peace    Egypt congratulates Armenia on Independence Day    Minister El-Khatib outlines Egypt's competitive edge for investors    China imposes sanctions on US arms suppliers to Taiwan    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Google wins EU legal battle over €1.5b fine    Egypt's Environment Minister outlines progress on sustainability initiatives    US examines increased Chinese uranium imports    Culture Minister directs opening of "Islamic Pottery Museum" to the public on 15 October    Restoration project at Edfu Temple reveals original coloured inscriptions for first time    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Egypt's Culture Minister seeks input from Writers Union on national strategy    Egypt awards ZeroCarbon solid waste management contract in Gharbia    Egypt, UN partner on $14-m coral reef protection project    ADB approves $93.6m for Cambodia's rural utilities    Egypt condemns Ethiopia's unilateral approach to GERD filling in letter to UNSC    Egyptian pentathletes dominate world championships in Lithuania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Egypt's FM, Kenya's PM discuss strengthening bilateral ties, shared interests    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Former Egyptian Intelligence Chief El-Tohamy Dies at 77    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Egypt's President assigns Madbouly to form new government    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Syrian Opposition To Attend Geneva Peace Conference
Published in Amwal Al Ghad on 28 - 11 - 2013

The Syrian National Coalition opposition group will attend the long-delayed "Geneva 2" talks in January aimed at ending the country's civil war, the group's president, Ahmad Jarba, said on Wednesday.
In an interview with Reuters and the Associated Press, he also said regional power Iran should only be allowed to attend if it stopped taking part in the bloodshed in Syria and withdrew its forces and proxies.
The coalition said previously it was ready to attend if humanitarian aid corridors were set up and political prisoners released. It insists that President Bashar al-Assad can play no future role in Syria.
"We are now ready to go to Geneva," Jarba said on a visit to Cairo, adding that the opposition viewed the Geneva talks as a step to a leadership transition and a "genuine democratic transformation in Syria".
"There is no way that the individual responsible for the destruction of the country can be responsible for building the country," said Jarba, referring to Assad.
Assad has consolidated his power around Damascus and central Syria after months of steady military gains. With support from Iran and Russia and backed by fighters from Lebanon and Iraq, his soldiers recaptured towns this month on the edge of the capital and the southern approaches to Aleppo.
More secure than a year ago from the mainly Sunni rebels, whose ranks are also swelled from abroad by an influx of Islamist jihadi fighters, Assad faces little internal pressure to make concessions to his enemies.
Syria said on Wednesday that Western countries that also demand that Assad step down should either stop "dreaming" or forget attending the peace talks.
Jarba rejected the idea of Iran taking part "under the current reality".
"Iran is responsible for and takes part in the killing in Syria in a very clear way. It killed thousands of Syrians with its Revolutionary Guards and mercenaries from Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist group," he said.
"If Iran is serious about resolving the Syrian crisis, it must first withdraw its Revolutionary Guards and (Lebanese) Hizbollah mercenaries."
IRAN CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE
Iran is the main backer, along with Russia, of Assad during a conflict that has lasted more than two years, killed more than 100,000 people and uprooted millions more.
Tehran has said it would attend Geneva 2 if invited and called on Wednesday for a ceasefire before the talks scheduled for January 22.
Western diplomats say Iran provides billions of dollars of aid and an undisclosed number of military advisers to Syria.
Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group openly acknowledges its guerrillas are fighting for Assad, but Tehran denies its troops have been engaged directly in combat in Syria.
"Iran is a participant in the killing of the Syrian people," said Jarba, who is backed by Sunni power Saudi Arabia, Shi'ite Iran's rival.
"If it wants to attend (Geneva talks), it is obliged to withdraw its forces and Hezbollah forces and Iraqi forces allied to it."
Asked what kind of weapons Saudi Arabia was providing for the opposition, Jarba said: "We often asked the international community and the Western world and Arab world for weapons. This is something we welcome."
The head of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army rebel brigades has rejected the Geneva talks and says there will be no ceasefire during the meeting.
Powerful Islamist fighters have gone further, threatening to put on trial anyone who attends talks that do not deliver Assad's ouster.
Source : Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.