Syria

SNC sets conditions for Syria talks

SYRIA-CONFLICT

Syria’s foreign-backed opposition has set preconditions for participating in the proposed Geneva 2 conference.

The so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) outlined in a Monday statement, translated from Arabic, conditions that must be met before the Geneva talks, which are aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

The statement said the opposition representatives would attend the conference only if the Syrian government allows relief agencies to have unhindered access to areas of Syria controlled by militants.

The divided foreign-backed opposition coalition has also demanded the release of all political prisoners.

The SNC reiterated its previous claim that any international conference on Syria must result in a political transition.

The Monday statement was released after the coalition convened for two-day talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Russia has said that, with no real influence on the ground, the SNC should not be used as an umbrella for the entire opposition in Syria, as “there is no evidence to suggest that the coalition is the sole legitimate representative of either all Syrian people or even the opposition as a whole.”

The Syrian government has agreed to take part in the talks, but has rejected preconditions or any insistence on the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

The Geneva 2 initiative was proposed by Russia and the United States on May 7.

The date of the long-awaited event has changed many times as the foreign-backed opposition remains divided over attending the talks.

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