Syria opposition reiterates talks offer

Addressing a gathering of the world’s top diplomats at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib said on Friday that the government should release prisoners as a gesture of goodwill in exchange for talks.

“As a gesture of good will… we are ready to sit at the negotiating table” with the Syrian government, Khatib said.

He emphasized that the opposition’s goal is to overthrow the government by peaceful means.

The so-called Syrian National Coalition and other foreign-backed opposition groups have insisted in the past that President Bashar al-Assad must step down before any negotiations.


Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil that erupted in Syria nearly two years ago.

In a key speech on January 6, Assad stated that Damascus was always ready to hold talks with the opposition and political parties and that he would call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after the terrorist activities stopped in the country.

On January 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took a swipe at the Syrian opposition for its insistence on the removal of the country’s President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Lavrov cited the opposition’s “obsession” with the push to oust Assad as a blow to the peace efforts by the former UN peace envoy for Syria Kofi Annan and his successor Lakhdar Brahimi.

The US and its allies, who are supporting the anti-Damascus militants with funds and weaponry, continue to demand the downfall of the Assad government.

DB/MA

Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/02/02/286832/syria-opposition-reiterates-talks-offer/

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