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Syrian opposition says ready for Geneva talks, but Assad must go

February 19, 2017 at 12:02 pm

Delegates at the 53rd Munich Security Conference (MSC) at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany, on February 17, 2017 [Andreas Gebert / Anadolu Agency]

The Syrian opposition is fully committed to peace talks in Geneva on February 23, a senior official said on Sunday, adding the talks would need to pave the way for a political transition.

“We are fully committed for the Geneva talks,” Syrian National Coalition President Anas al-Abdah told delegates at the Munich Security Conference. “We cannot address the profound security threats…while Assad remains in power,” he said.

Brett McGurk, the United States’ envoy to the coalition against Daesh, said the new US administration was still reviewing its Syria position, but that it was seeking a role to reinforce Russian and Turkish efforts to cement a ceasefire in the country.

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