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January 27, 2014

Assad Regime, Opposition Clash on Transition 
---------------------------------------------


 
Today's Syria negotiations are focusing on plans for a political
transition, a key sticking point between the two sides. The Syrian
opposition and world powers, including the United States, have demanded
the departure of Syrian President Basher al-Assad. Ahead of today's
talks, a spokesperson for the opposition Syrian National Coalition said
the Assad regime has sought to stonewall discussions on a political
transition.

Louay Safi: ''Tomorrow we start talking about transition from
dictatorship to democracy. Clearly the regime is not enthusiastic to
talk about that. They are stalling, they are trying to use delay
tactics, trying to go into details about information that can't be
verified, they are asking about names, a list of names of people who
were blockaded rather than providing humanitarian corridors.''

The Assad regime has ruled out Assad's departure. Syria's Deputy Foreign
Minister said Syria's future will be decided by elections in which Assad
would presumably run.

Faysal Makdad: "But as far as the issue of the president is concerned,
President Bashar al-Assad is the president of the Syrian Arab Republic
until the Syrian people say something else and I think every Syrian has
the right to be nominated, to be elected or not to be elected. That's
why we are coming here to say look, the only solution at the end of the
tunnel is to go to elections."

 

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