US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford ordered the foreign-backed opposition figures to take part in the international peace conference, noting that there are many changes in the Saudi policy regarding the crisis in Syria.
An official in the executive committee of the so-called “Syrian National Coalition”, Nidal Hamade, said that Ford had called for an urgent meeting with “SNC” figures in Turkey’s Istanbul, noting that the US envoy had threatened to cut funds for anyone who will not attend the meeting, Islam Times reported.
“In addition to Ford, all “SNC” figures opposing participation in the Geneva 2 conference were at the meeting, namely” Loay Safi, Anass al-Abdeh, Haitham al-Maleh, Burhan Ghalioun, Najeeb al-Ghadban and Maher Noaimi”,” Hamade said.
During the meeting, Ford told the “SNC” figures that Saudi prince Bandar Bin Sultan is on long vacation in the United States, “because of sickness and psychological fatigue”, Hamade added, citing a Syrian “opposition “official close to former Prime Minister Riyad Hijab.
“We would like to inform you that there are some changes that will take place in Saudi Arabia next March,” Ford said, noting that these changes will reach Bandar Bin Sultan and Saud al-Faissal.
Ford told the Syrian opposition figures that “Bandar’s plan for the Syrian conflict, put in 2012, had catastrophic repercussions on Syria and the region. It had made of Syria a powerful hub for al-Qaeda that the US cannot confront. For that, you have to stop objecting and to go to Geneva 2, this is the US’ interest.”
R.S