Geneva Track Problematic ‘Opposition Representation’, Says Shaaban

DAMASCUS,(ST)_Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban has reiterated the Syrian government’s keenness to spare no effort to stop the bloodshed in the country and bring about  a solution to the ongoing crisis.    

She made it clear that the main problematic in the Geneva 2 talks is that we do not know who the ‘opposition coalition’ represents and what is its relation to the ongoing events in Syria as well as its impact on the ground.

 “Despite the problematic of the other side’s representation, we are going today to Geneva because our main goal is to spare no effort to stop the bloodshed in Syria and to arrive at a solution to the crisis, Shaaban said in an interview with the Iranian Al-Alam TV. Channel on Sunday.

Combating terrorism ‘priority’

She added that the ‘coalition’ delegation came to the talks to discuss one word in the initial Geneva deal, that is to say ‘ power’ and not transitional government. “However, the Syrian delegation wants to debate the deal according to a logical sequence starting from the first clause which is stopping violence, or in other words stopping terrorism.”

The advisor pointed out that the discussion of preserving the state’s institutions and creating a suitable climate to arrive at political solution precede the discussion of the transitional government issue. 

On the other hand, Shaaban asserted that the coalition delegation receives instructions from the United States which failed to impose its will on Syria.

Desperate attempts

“The United States is still working on both political and military tracks through supporting terrorism in Syria. It turns a blind eye to Saudi Arabia which funds terrorism in Syria in a desperate attempt to achieve something on the ground,” she said.

The advisor affirmed that these attempts will be failed because supporting terrorism in Syria synchronizes with rapid reconciliations on the ground and with a change in the Syrian’s mentality.

Shaaban added that stopping the terrorist war against the Syrian people is the solution to the humanitarian issue in the country, blaming those who sponsor terrorism in Syria for the Syrians’ suffering.

“Terrorists hold civilians as human shield and trade in their suffering,” Shabban said.

Basma Qaddour