Syria Opposition urges peaceful solution to end crisis

Members of Syria’s opposition hold a conference in Damascus to find ways to end months of bloody unrest in the country.

The meeting dubbed the “Syria Salvation Conference” was organized by the National Coordination Body.

Iranian, Russian and Chinese envoys also attended the Friday meeting.

A statement distributed to journalists said the participants in the conference have agreed on a number of principles, including a peaceful political solution to the country’s unrest and an immediate ceasefire.

The statement added that following the ceasefire, the opposition and representatives of the Syrian government would start negotiations on a peaceful transition of power.

“The main goal now is to put an immediate end to the violence in Syria, whether from the government side or the armed groups,” Russia’s ambassador Azamat Kulmukhametov said.

“The other goal is no less important, to convert the current confrontation … into a peaceful political solution,” he added.

Opposition armed groups and the Free Army refused to attend the meeting.

Rajaa al-Nasser said the Damascus authorities permitted all Syrian political figures to attend the conference “without restrictions.”

NCB opposes the violent uprising, as well as any foreign military intervention, and is more inclined to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the 18-month crisis in Syria.