Al-Moallem: Syria Ready to Participate in Geneva Talks

Local Editor

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Thursday that his country was ready to take part in peace talks in Geneva, wishing that the dialogue would help the country form a national unity government.

Relatively, the UN Security Council last Friday unanimously approved a resolution endorsing an international road map for a Syrian peace process, a rare show of unity among major powers on a conflict that claimed more than a quarter of a million lives so far.

Meanwhile, the international organization planned to convene peace talks in Geneva towards the end of January.

In parallel, al-Moallem told reporters that he informed the Chinese FM Wang Yi that Syria was "ready to participate in the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva without any foreign interference."

"Our delegation will be ready as soon as we receive a list of the opposition delegation," he further added.

Expressing hopes that this dialogue would be successful and help in having a national unity government, al-Moallem explained: "This government will compose a constitutional committee to look for a new constitution with a new law of election so the parliamentary election will be held within the period of 18 months, more or less."

Friday's resolution gives UN blessing to a plan negotiated earlier in Vienna that calls for a ceasefire, talks between the Syrian government and opposition and a roughly two-year timeline to create a unity government and hold elections.

However, the obstacles to ending the war remain daunting, with no side in the conflict able to secure a clear military victory.

Despite their agreement at the United Nations, the major powers are bitterly divided on who may represent the opposition as well as on the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team