TURKEY: Syrian opposition leaders say they have set up a preparatory committee to try and develop a 'unified' vision ahead of Cairo talks

Record ID: 280984

  • Title: TURKEY: Syrian opposition leaders say they have set up a preparatory committee to try and develop a 'unified' vision ahead of Cairo talks
  • Date: 17th June 2012
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JUNE 16, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF THE VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL LOUAY SAFI SAYING: "We have concluded now a preparatory meeting that has named a committee. This committee is going to be responsible for developing the vision, the principles for the new Syria based on documents that have already been prepared." CA
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2012 13:00
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  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVABLACW1LI3NLBV19S0NG0I0Q9D
  • Story Text: Syria's divided opposition said they had a established a committee to try and develop a more united front on Saturday (June 16), ahead of possible talks in Cairo.
    Following two days of talks in Istanbul, opposition leaders agreed it was vital to unify their goals if they hoped for support from the international community.
    "We have concluded now a preparatory meeting that has named a committee. This committee is going to be responsible for developing the vision, the principles for the new Syria based on documents that have already been prepared," said Syrian National Council member Louay Safi.
    He said despite differences, opposition leaders realised the international community had been displeased with divisions they had shown.
    "Definitely we need to have a unified opposition. The presence of tension and fraction within that opposition is not helping. The international community is not happy and definitely the people of Syria are not happy to see their representatives and the political forces that are speaking on their behalf to be divided," he said.
    Opposition member Ammar Qurabi said he had not held high hopes for the meeting, but their had been some progress.
    "As I expect yesterday and as I told you we didn't have high hopes for this meeting. At last we can arrange about small committees who will prepare to the conference at the end of this month," he said.
    Haitham al-Maleh will be part of the preparatory committee.
    "I think there is pressure from the international community to unite the opposition of Syria and I think we are going to do that soon. Maybe this month we will finish the meetings," he said.
    World powers are working towards holding a crisis meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30 to try to get a tattered peace plan back on track.
    Violence has surged in recent weeks in Syria after government forces and allied militia launched offensives to regain territories controlled by the opposition and rebels abandoned a ceasefire negotiated by international envoy Kofi Annan in his efforts to ease the conflict between President Bashar al-Assad and the movement fighting to end his family's four decade rule.
    On Saturday, the UN suspended its monitoring mission in the country due to escalating violence.
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