Parallel-track Talks ‘Useless and Illogical’, Says Al-Zou’bi

GENEVA,(ST)_Information Minister has said that parallel-track talks are useless and illogical, stressing that agreement on combating terrorism is a main condition and not a pre-condition. 

Omran al-Zoubi told reporters on Wednesday that the coalition delegation proposed in today’s session a paper or what could be described as ideas about the so-called ‘transitional government, while the Syrian official delegation presented documents on terrorists’ crimes that claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians in the past three years.

He denied reports that the coalition delegation said in today’s session that the transitional government could help getting rid of terrorism.

“Members of the coalition delegation talk about power because they want it and they are unable to halt violence and have no control over anyone on the ground,” the minister said. 

He reiterated that the Syrian official delegation will debate no issue, in the next session, before reaching an agreement on combating terrorism. “If there is a joint session tomorrow, the Syrian Arab Republic’s delegation will go ahead with debating the issue of combating terrorism.”

“We do not mind discussing the Geneva communiqué, including the transitional government, according to the logical sequence,” al-Zou’bi said, adding that continuity of negotiation and insistence on the Syrian state’s national interests are the only outlet to all parties.

He called on the coalition delegation to re-read the Geneva deal on which talks have been based.

No pressures 

Responding to a question about the international pressures to break the deadlock on talks, al-Zou’bi said that Syria is an independent and sovereign state and no one pressures it. He affirmed that Russia has never practiced political pressures on Syria.

Basma Qaddour