Transition starts after Assad leaves: Syrian opposition

By Mohamed Sheikh Yusuf

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Syrian opposition stressed Thursday that the transitional process in Syria would not start before the departure of Bashar al-Assad and his loyalists.

İt added that unconditional direct negotiations mean discussing all issues, and no one has the right to set preconditions.

The final statement of the Syrian opposition's second expanded conference held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh was called to establish "a transition period that leads the country to a democratic and pluralistic political system […] that brings all Syrians together in their homeland," the statement added.

The statement pointed out that the political process “has not achieved the desired goal, because of the ongoing violations of the regime of international law, and non-implementation of Security Council resolutions related to the protection of Syrian civilians and lifting the siege on them".

"It is essential to ensure the implementation of the transitional process in a manner that ensures the safety of everyone in an atmosphere of security, stability and calm," stressing that this will not happen without the departure of Bashar al-Assad, his gang as well as the system of repression and tyranny at the start of the transitional phase.

Participants stressed "their adherence to the unity and integrity of the Syrian territory, and the sovereignty of the desired [Syrian] state throughout its territory and not to cut any part of it or concede it."

The statement also expressed the Syrian opposition’s “rejection and fight against extremism and terrorism in all its forms and sources, and regional and international interferences, especially the Iranian role in destabilizing the region [...], and making demographic changes in it."

The participants also pledged to "preserve and reform the institutions of the Syrian state, with the restructuring and formation of its security and military institutions, guaranteeing the rights of its personnel, and asserting that the legitimate Syrian state institutions, chosen by the Syrian people through free and fair elections, are the only ones that have the exclusive right to hold and use weapons ".