Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with al-Qaeda-linked militant groups, who ask for foreign military intervention in the Arab country.

In an interview with Italy’s state-run Rai News 24 television network on Sunday, Assad said, “Regarding the militants, if they give up their arms we’ll be ready to discuss with them anything like with any other citizen”. He said, “We cannot discuss with al-Qaeda offshoots and organizations that are affiliated with al-Qaeda”, adding, “We cannot negotiate with the people who ask for foreign intervention and military intervention in Syria.”
He also vowed to abide by the UN resolution calling for the elimination of country’s chemical weapons.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on September 27 to pass a resolution requiring Syria to eliminate its chemical weapons stockpile.
Under the document, the council “decides, in the event of noncompliance with this resolution, including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in the Syrian Arab Republic, to impose measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.”