Presence of Damascus at Sochi Congress Means Willingness for Dialogue – Lawmaker

SOCHI- The participation of the Syrian government representatives in the National Dialogue Congress in Sochi demonstrates the willingness of Damascus to engage in dialogue with the opposition, Syrian lawmaker and Congress participant Muhannad Al-Hajali said on Monday, according to Sputnik.

“This once again proves that the Syrian government has not been fighting against its political opponents, the Syrian government has been fighting against terrorism, and what you have seen here confirms that the government is ready to engage in a political dialogue with those forces that are constructively seeking a political solution to the crisis in Syria,” Al-Hajali told reporters.

 The refusal of the Syrian Negotiation Committee’s (SNC) to attend the event demonstrates its unwillingness to achieve political reconciliation in the country, the lawmaker noted.

“It is a testament to the fact that these people do not seek a political solution, but want terrorism to spread across Syria. And the second aspect — it proves that they are connected with those foreign forces — the United States and Saudi Arabia — who are seeking Syria’s partition,” Al-Hajali said.

Only Syrians Should Decide Who will Lead Them

In the same context,  a participant of the  Congress Riad Tabara said that only the Syrians themselves can and should decide who will be the president of the country.

“As for the presidency in Syria, this is a sovereign position in the country. No one should interfere in this process. We, the Syrians will decide ourselves who will be the president of Syria,” Tabara, who is a member of the Party of National Pledge, which is part of the National Progressive Front of Syria, told reporters.

The official further expressed hope that representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition would be able to gather at the same table at the forum.

“Yes, we hope that it will take place. People would not have come here, if they did not want to talk to each other,” Tabara told reporters.

He also called on the opposition to back up the idea of the united Syria.

“I think that those responsible people in the camp of the opposition must understand — we have one homeland and no matter what political differences between us, we should unite around the idea of a united Syria,” Tabara noted.

H.M