Syria Opposition Rules Out Participation in Peace Talks
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syria's main opposition coalition reiterated on Saturday its refusal to participate in proposed international peace talks, saying recent developments in the civil war had "closed the doors" to any political initiative.
"What is happening in Syria today completely shuts the doors on any discussions about international conferences and political initiatives," George Sabra, head of the opposition National Coalition,said at a press conference in Istanbul.
His comments referred to an initiative headed by Washington and Moscow to bring the Syrian regime and opposition groups to peace talks in Geneva.
"The war declared by the regime and its allies in the region has reached a level we cannot ignore," Sabra said.
He has already said on May 30 that the opposition would not attend a peace conference while "Iran" and Hizbullah were supporting Syrian regime forces on the ground.
"The lives of Syrians are much more important than any political solution of international conference," he said at the time.
Regime forces captured the last rebel bastion near the flashpoint town of Qusayr, Syrian state television reported on Saturday.
This came after the town of Qusayr, which had been in insurgent hands for a year, fell to the army and forces from Lebanon's Hizbullah on Wednesday.
Sabra also accused "Hizbullah and its allies in Syria of destroying the political, social, cultural and humanitarian foundations in the region established thousands of years ago."
He also charged Hizbullah, along with Iraq and Iran, both Shiite-majority countries, of pushing towards a "sectarian conflict."
But he said the opposition would refuse to be dragged in, saying that this would change "our lives in the region into hell."
Assad's regime is dominated by members of the Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the rebels fighting it are mostly Sunni Muslims.
The opposition chief also warned that the Lebanese government would have to take responsibility for the "implications of the invasion" of Syria by Hizbullah, saying the rebellion had the right to defend the Syrian people.
At the same press conference, Coalition Secretary General Mustafa Sabbagh repeated calls for countries backing the uprising to send rebels weapons to match the regime's firepower.
Sabbagh claimed the opposition coalition had done its best to assuage its backers' fears over supplying weapons, receiving "only promises in return, few of which have been honored."
08 June 2013, 23:38
48
First you cry out for help, then you beg Berri for help , then you make out that you are worried about innocent people been caught up in the battle for Qusayr , now tell us exactly want you really want? You have just showed you devious side , all you Free Savage Animals ( FSA/ Al Nusra ) just want to continue on with war and killing more innocent people , Otherwise go to the board room for political talks , you idiot !!! This save more lives not War you Cannibals !!
09 June 2013, 17:53
20
it was your brave syrian baath regime who butchered peaceful demonstrators that triggered this war... peaceful demonstrations that were shelled and people killed like rabbits... forgot that? LOL!
brave little virtual soldier acknowledging the use of the army against his own people instead of using it against israelis! yes that takes a lot of courage! lOL!
08 June 2013, 23:59
26
George Zabra you are a stooge for the KSA & GCC states , go back to Texas you fool !!
09 June 2013, 01:46
27
Sabra ya ahbal , you are only a stooge for the no good , KSA the GCC & for the USA. You are an animal but not yet classified as a savage cannibal . I would advise you to stop barking but start to packing ! Stop been a mouthpiece to a regime that wants no peace . Out of respect pack your bags & get the hell out of there . For as long as you stay you will be maimed . So shut up & pack up not for your sake but that would be the best way . So stop kicking screaming & shouting it's up to you to stop this fighting. If you can't control this problem well don't hold anymore conferences .
09 June 2013, 02:13
05
Ya George just give up everything the free syrian people have fought and bled for these last 2 years and say la illaha il bashar....
09 June 2013, 09:35
70
Why you are systematically ignoring the fact that there is a true opposition to this ruthless regime that wants to transform the country into a democratic one. The events started with civilians going into the street armless demanding democracy and freedom. The fact is that this regime is part of the Iranian hizbullah axis and quickly the events became regional involving Iran hizbullah and Islamists armed mostly by Qatar and some extremists leaders in Saudia. Regional interests has confiscated the revolution of the Syrian people and you are doing just the same by ignoring the fact that George's Sabra is not Nusra and that he is not speaking on behalf of Salafists but in behalf of the Syrian people who truly want to have a democratic country.
09 June 2013, 11:53
16
lol cup of Lebanese coffee in hand, reading these wonderfully funny comments and thinking how bad has this so called revolution back fired on KSA & GCC? True Arabic people are still true to their Arabian heritage by not allowing conservative extremists to prevail and rule our way of life. The complete downfall of FSA is a victory for freedom loving Arabians.
09 June 2013, 17:49
20
lol! one believing he is the pope! M8ers are afraid of nothing to prove they are so ridiculous....
