Friends of Syria to meet in London next week

Foreign Secretary William Hague announced on Friday that Britain is to host a meeting of the core group of the Friends of Syria in London on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hague said: “The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2118 calling for an international conference on Syria to implement the Geneva Communiqué.” This, added the foreign secretary, requires the establishment of a transitional governing body in Syria. “It will exercise full executive powers, including members of the present government and the opposition and other groups, formed on the basis of mutual consent.”

Identifying the participants and the day of the conference, Hague explained that eleven foreign ministers will meet in London next week “to discuss preparations for the Geneva Conference and support for the Syrian National Coalition”. Britain’s efforts “to achieve a political settlement to this tragic conflict” will also be on the agenda.