Only Syrians can decide future: President Rouhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says that only Syrian people can decide for the future of their country through election.

President Rouhani said on Friday that if anyone thinks they can decide for the Syrian people from outside, they are making a mistake.

“This is the Syrian nation that should decide for its future. Grounds must be prepared in the future so the people’s demands are met in a free election,” Rouhani stated.

The Iranian president made the remarks at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport upon arrival from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss city of Davos.

Rouhani also stated that the crisis in Syria can only be resolved if there is a unanimous determination to counter terrorism in the country, tackle the humanitarian needs of the Syrian nation and lay the groundwork for dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.

The Iranian president pointed to the ongoing international conference on Syria in Geneva and said, “I do not think the Syrian crisis can be resolved through such conferences.”

On Friday, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said that Damascus will not agree to an opposition demand regarding the formation of a transitional government.

The comments came shortly after the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) announced that it will not meet with the government delegation until Damascus accepts the Geneva I communiqué of June 2012 on power transition.

The latest round of talks on Syria crisis kicked off in the town of Montreux, Switzerland, on January 22.

The session ended in bitter exchanges and disagreements between the representatives of the Syrian government and the foreign-backed opposition coalition.