Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed on Monday (March 16) remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Assad should be included in negotiations to reach a political transition, saying, “Whether they say I remain or not, the Syrian people have the final say on this”.
“We are still hearing the declarations and we should wait for actions and then decide,”Assad said in comments broadcast on Syrian state television.
In a Sunday CBS interview, Kerry did not repeat the standard U.S. line that Assad had lost all legitimacy and had to go. “We have to negotiate in the end,” Kerry said when asked whether the United States would be willing to negotiate with Assad.
Kerry said the United States and other countries, which he did not name, were exploring ways to reignite the diplomatic process to end the conflict in Syria, which has left more than 200,000 dead.
“What we’re pushing for is to get him (Assad) to come and do that, and it may require that there be increased pressure on him of various kinds in order to do that,” Kerry said.
Assad said any international change in attitude regarding the situation Syria found itself in would be positive, but said foreign countries should end support for terrorist groups in Syria, a term Damascus uses for insurgents who have been fighting the army and allied militia for four years.
“Any changes on the international front happening within this framework are welcome as long as they are honest and will come with practical action on the ground. But they must begin by ceasing political support for terrorism – ceasing the funding and supply of arms to terrorists. It must also come by putting pressure on European nations, and countries that support them in our region, who are providing logistical support for terrorists, as well as financial and military support. Only then can we consider their change of position to be genuine,” he said.
Kerry’s remark has provoked alarm and dismay among commentators close to Gulf Arab governments opposed to Assad‘s rule.
Saudi Arabia has long feared the administration of President Barack Obama lacks the resolve to tackle Assad and that it is instead focusing on a nuclear deal with the Syrian leader’s main supporter, Iran.
Although there was no immediate official comment from Riyadh, Saudi analysts with connections to the ruling family and conservative Sunni Muslim clerics quickly voiced concern about Kerry’s remarks.
Other Gulf countries, which like Saudi Arabia have backed Syrian rebels against Assad, also worried about Kerry’s remarks.
The Saudis have in the past said a political transition in Syria cannot begin unlessAssad leaves power, and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has accused him of committing genocide against Syrians.
Reuters/Syrian TV
