Shaaban: Ending terrorism priority

Geneva, (ST) _ “the  Geneva communiqué ,which states that counterterrorism item comes first, is the criterion in setting priorities in order during Geneva talks, “underscored Presidential Political and Media Advisor, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban.

Shaaban’s remark came during an interview with the Lebanese TV al-Mayadeen aired on Wednesday.

 Shaaban said that most of the Coalition’s decisions are tied to foreign sides who want to exercise tutelage on Syria and the Syrian people. ”This, however, will not happen,” she added.

Shaaban described the Coalition’s delegation as ”so separated from what is going on in Syria and indifferent to the suffering of the Syrian people.”

Shaaban made it clear that when terrorism ends, we can conceive of the Syrians sitting together and deciding on a transitional government and the future of their own country.

Shaaban pointed out that the Syrian official delegation has insisted, during the last session, on expanding the opposition’s representation as the current delegation ”represents but a small segment of the Coalition…and we would like to see many opposition parties in Syria represented.”

Shaaban asserted that  the forthcoming trilateral meeting between Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov, Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman of the United States and the UN Envoy to Syria’ Lakhdar Brahimi, Shaaban comes in ”the context of consultations.”

She further clarified that the   Syrian official delegation is not pressed by any international side because it is doing what ought to be done according to Geneva communiqué, international legitimacy and the Syrian convictions that match the Russians.

“actually, the problem with the US side is that it agrees with the Russians on something and then does otherwise,” she added.

Shaaban underlined that if Brahimi is proved to be biased to certain sides, he will face the judgment of history,” .

R.S