Syrian opposition reacts coolly to UN-backed peace plan

U.N. Security Council members unanimously approved a U.N. resolution Friday endorsing a peace process for Syria including a cease-fire and talks between the Damascus government and the opposition, but the text makes no mention of the most contentious issue – the future role of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

This is the only way to settle the conflict in Syria, outline a Syrian constitution and hold Syrian elections under United Nations supervision, the Egyptian top diplomat said.

“Within a month or so, two months, decisions are going to have to start to be made about the devolution of some power” and the creation of a transitional body agreed to by Syria’s government and opposition with full executive power, Kerry said.

“How could this man unite a people that he has in part massacred?”

But it does not include the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, or Islamic State, among the strongest opponents of Assad.

“But we shouldn’t be the ones declaring that Assad must go”.

Assad has portrayed himself in recent interviews with the Western media as a protector of Syria’s minorities, saying his rule was an example of religious tolerance in a country threatened by Islamist insurgents who have taken swathes of territory and seek to impose their version of strict Islam.

The agreement demands that all parties cease attacks against civilians.

“Why didn’t they fight terrorism from the very beginning, before [IS] appeared?” This is the first time that all the related countries have come to a consensus.

A number of states are conducting military campaigns in the Syria against the group. Najib Ghadbian, the SNC’s envoy to the United Nations, said opposition groups need “a month or so” to prepare for the political talks that would begin in tandem with a ceasefire.

Divisions within the Syrian opposition have hampered efforts to resolve the conflict.

“We will continue to support Syria and only the Syrian people will decide at the end of a political process”, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, said.

Fellow coalition member Samir Nashar said bombing by the regime and Russian Federation must stop for there to be a sustainable ceasefire.

Peace and stability in Syria are only possible if Bashar al-Assad leaves the political scene, the Turkish Foreign Minister said Saturday, APA reports quoting Anadolu agency. Assad responded with sarcasm when asked whether he was comforted that Washington’s stance on his departure had seemingly softened. “I had to leave, but now I can stay”, he joked.