Damascus: The Syrian opposition coalition has conditionally agreed to attend the Geneva II conference designed to end the country’s bloody conflict, a statement said on Monday.
“A consensus has been reached among the coalition members about the need to take part in the Geneva II conference,” the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) said in the statement issued after two days of talks in Istanbul between different opposition groups.
The conditions put forth by the SNC for attending the conference are a guarantee from the Syrian government to allow relief agencies to enter besieged areas and release of political prisoners.
The coalition also required a guarantee that any political conference should lead to a political transition in Syria, according to the statement.
The SNC had been divided on whether to attend the meeting and the conditions to go to Geneva, leaving the date of the Geneva II conference up in the air.
The Syrian government said it would take part in the conference without preconditions.
The SNC on Sunday said it would not attend peace talks in Geneva unless it received the backing of the rebels on the ground.
The Arab League has called on the Syrian opposition to attend the Geneva II conference and form their delegation as soon as possible. China, India and Russia Sunday stressed the need to find a political solution to the Syria crisis when the foreign ministers of the three countries met in New Delhi. Russian Foreign Minister Seigei Lavrov said all three countries hoped the Geneva II conference on Syria would be held as soon as possible.
The Geneva I conference was held June 30, 2012, and adopted a communique seeking to find a diplomatic solution to Syria’s prolonged conflict. (IANS)
