Assad Calls for Dialogue Among Syrians, Brahimi Warns of World Threat
President Bashar Assad called for dialogue between Syrians during a meeting on Saturday with international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, state television reported.
"The real problem in Syria is that of combining politics with the work being done on the ground," said Assad. "The political work continues, in particular by calling for dialogue between Syrians based on the aspirations of all Syrians.
"The success of political action is dependent on putting pressure on the countries that finance and train the terrorists, and which bring weapons into Syria, until they stop doing so."
Assad said his government would "cooperate with all sincere efforts to solve the crisis, so long as the efforts are neutral and independent."
Also present at his meeting with Brahimi were Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban.
Brahimi warned after meeting Assad that the worsening conflict in Syria poses a threat to the region and the world at large.
"The crisis is dangerous and getting worse, and it is a threat to the Syrian people, the region and the world," said the newly-appointed Brahimi, who took over as envoy earlier this month from former U.N. chief Kofi Annan.
"We will make a great effort to make progress, and do our best ... to help the Syrian people," he said, without giving specifics on how to breathe life into stalled peace efforts, 18 months into Syria's deadly conflict.
"The Syrian government has promised to help the (envoy's) office in Damascus to do its work well," said Brahimi, referring to a political office headed by diplomat Mokhtar Lamani.
Brahimi, a 78-year-old veteran Algerian troubleshooter, has also held talks with Muallem and members of the officially tolerated opposition since he arrived in the Syrian capital on Thursday.
United Nations spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci has said the U.N.-Arab League envoy would also hold talks on Saturday with Arab ambassadors and a European Union delegation, following the meeting with Assad.
Brahimi already warned on arrival that the conflict is "getting worse," as underlined by the daily bloodshed.
Source: Agence France Presse
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