LONDON/ISTANBUL: Syria’s opposition set out detailed plans on Wednesday for the transition to a democratic state without President Bashar al-Assad ahead of talks with ministers of EU, US and regional powers in London.
The broad-based High Negotiations Committee (HNC) proposed a six-month negotiating phase between the regime and the opposition. The subsequent 18 months would see Syria governed by a transitional body, made up of opposition figures, current government representatives and members of civil society, according to a 25-page blueprint.
“Syria wants to see Bashar leave. If Bashar leaves will the fighting go on? No,” HNC head Riad Hijab said.
The proposals come after intense discussions by the US and Russia over a possible path to end the five and a half year conflict.
“The aim of the meeting in London is to prepare a common position and make the case to the United States, while there are persistent rumours about the conclusion of a US-Russian deal,” a French diplomatic source said.
US and Turkey are ready to work together to push Islamic State jihadists out of their de facto capital of Raqa in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published on Wednesday.
{{/usCountry}}US and Turkey are ready to work together to push Islamic State jihadists out of their de facto capital of Raqa in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published on Wednesday.
{{/usCountry}}Erdogan said he had agreed with President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 meeting to do “what is necessary” to drive IS out of Raqa.
“Raqa is the most important centre of Daesh... Obama wants to do something together especially on the issue of Raqa...I said there would be no problem from our perspective,” he said.