‘Syria future hinged on elections’

An Iranian official has dismissed possibility of a transitional government in Syria, saying elections are the only solution to the ongoing crisis in the Arab country.

Hossein Sheikholeslam, international affairs adviser to Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, dismissed demands by the Syrian opposition for the establishment of a transitional government as a wishful thinking, stressing the need for a ceasefire in the Arab country.

He voiced support for the “lawful” government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying, “The constructive approach to end the war in Syria is to support the Damascus government in fighting terrorism.”

He stressed that outsiders cannot decide for Syria and only Syrian people should determine the future of their country through legal elections in 2014.

Syria has been plagued by deadly crisis since March 2011. Iran has repeatedly stressed that the crisis should be resolved through an indigenous political solution and free elections in the country.

The second round of negotiations between the Syrian government and the foreign-backed opposition in the Swiss city of Geneva hit a deadlock due to sharp differences between the two sides.

UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said on Saturday that talks to resolve the Syrian crisis broke off without any result and no date has been yet set for another round.

The Syrian delegation says fighting terrorism should be the top priority, but the opposition insists that the formation of a transitional government and resignation of President Bashar al-Assad must come first.