Syria gov’t declares position, without mention of transitional governing body

Syrian government representatives on Monday presented their position without mention of a transitional governing body or the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

As the joint session between delegates of the Syrian government, opposition and UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi entered the third day, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Makdad told reporters they laid out basic principles held by its government.

“That will pave the way for actual discussions when we come to the hard issues,” said Makdad, stressing they hoped the opposition would “agree on these basic principles.”

The government’s position included emphasis on full-respect of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejection of all forms of foreign interference, combat against terrorism, preservation and protection of all state institutions and the country’s infrastructure and public and private properties.

The issue of a transitional governing body mooted by the Geneva conference on Syria and the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were left out of the paper.

The opposition reportedly rejected their declaration.

SOURCE: Xinhua