SNC leader says Syrian settlement cannot be political
MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - The Syrian National Council (SNC) has decided not to attend the Geneva II international peace conference for Syria because this conference is unpromising and the Syrian conflict cannot have a political solution, SNC leader George Sabra said.
"Even those who support Geneva II have doubts about its ability to reach any results. We think this conference has no prospects and do not believe that the decisions it may make will correspond to the real aspirations and ambitions of the Syrian people," he said in an interview with the Voice of Russia radio station.
"In fact, we are positive that the Syrian situation cannot be resolved politically," the opposition member said.
The main condition the Syrian National Council set forward for starting any Syrian settlement negotiations is the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, Sabra said.
"Bashar al-Assad must go and hand over power to the interim government. It is also necessary to hold democratic elections. There are decent people in the country and even in the incumbent government who could have taken part in elections and the building of a democratic state if they had abandoned al-Assad. The door will be closed for any political solution as long as al-Assad stays in office," he said.
The opposition member accused the Syrian authorities of forming extremist groups.
"True, there are extremists in Syria. They are operating in regions which the Syrian Free Army has not taken under its control. Actually, some of these terrorist groups have been formed by the government," he said.
According to Sabra, the Syrian opposition stands for the establishment of a commission for the investigation of all crimes committed in Syria during the conflict.
"Every culprit must be punished, no matter to which side he belongs," he said.
