EGYPT: Syria opposition chief: no contact yet about government talks

Record ID: 276483

  • Title: EGYPT: Syria opposition chief: no contact yet about government talks
  • Date: 25th February 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 25, 2013) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS SYRIAN OPPOSITION CHIEF, MOAZ ALKHATIB WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMED KAMEL AMR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN NATIONAL OPPOSITION COALITION, MOAZ ALKHATIB, SAYING: "We have not yet communicated and we are waiting to communicate with them [the Syr
  • Embargoed: 12th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA49UO9GCRREZIKG2AIKFD98R1P
  • Story Text: The head of Syria's main opposition coalition said on Monday (February 25) that he has not yet been in contact with the Syrian government after Damascus said it was ready to talk to the armed opposition.
    Moaz Alkhatib delivered the news to reporters in Cairo, while Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was quoted by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency after meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
    "We have not yet communicated and we are waiting to communicate with them to see," Syrian National Coalition leader Moaz Alkhatib said.
    It was the clearest offer yet of negotiations with rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
    Alkhatib said opposition visits to the United States and Russia had been delayed "until we see how things develop".
    Syria's government and opposition have both suggested in recent weeks they are prepared for some contacts - softening their previous outright rejection of talks to resolve a conflict which has driven nearly a million Syrians out of the country and left millions more homeless and hungry. The United Nations estimates 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
    "Russia declined to issue a statement condemning the use of Scud rockets on civilians. I ask for an international and Arab position on this barbarism which is unacceptable," Moaz continued.
    The coalition head criticised Russia for what he said was its refusal to condemn the killing of civilians by President Bashar al-Assad's military.
    "The silent states have a hand in the suffering of the Syrian people. We reject this and we will go to any place where we feel there will be support to end the suffering of our people," he said.
    U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Assad had told him he intended to remain president until his termin 2014 and would then run for re-election.
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