- Title: SPAIN: Madrid extends support to moderate Syrian opposition leader
- Date: 21st May 2013
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (MAY 21, 2013) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS JOSE MANUEL MARGALLO AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION (SNC) MOAZ AL-KHATIB WALKING INTO COURTYARD, SHAKING HANDS AND SMILING MARGALLO AND AL-KHATIB GOING UP STAIRS MARGALLO AND AL-KHATIB ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MARGALLO AND AL-KHATIB AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS JOSE MANUEL MARGALLO SAYING: "We have reiterated our availability to help them when they ask for it and in the way they ask for it. They know we will give them that help wholeheartedly like when a part of family is suffering." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOAZ AL-KHATIB, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION (SNC), SAYING: "The humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people is unprecedented. That is why all the opposition forces do not object to finding a political solution to the crisis. But this solution cannot come at the cost of the sacrifices of the Syrian people." CAMERAMAN AT NEWS CONFERENCE MARGALLO AND AL-KHATIB TAKE OFF EAR PIECES AND TALK AFTER CONCLUDING NEWS CONFERENCE CLOSE UP OF MARGALLO AND AL-KHATIB TALKING
- Embargoed: 5th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- City:
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAJJZF3Z204Y0486SA431BYCNQ
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Spain reiterated its support to Syria's opposition on Tuesday (May 21) after opposition members, including the former president of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) Moaz Alkhatib, met in Madrid to launch a new political initiative aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
"We have reiterated our availability to help them when they ask for it and in the way they ask for it. They know we will give them that help wholeheartedly like when a part of family is suffering," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo said in a joint news conference with Al-Khatib at the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
Al-Khatib met Margallo following the completion of a two day conference with opposition members organised by the Syrian National Development Party under the sponsorship of the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
The Syrian opposition leader, who resigned as president of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) in March, said the time was right to reach a political settlement to Syria's conflict.
"The humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people is unprecedented. That is why all the opposition forces do not object to finding a political solution to the crisis. But this solution cannot come at the cost of the sacrifices of the Syrian people," Al-Khatib said.
At the end of the two day consultative meeting, the participants issued a "Madrid Declaration" which set out an agreed set of principles which they would follow in negotiations with Assad in order to pave the way for a democratic Syria.
The opposition members agreed that Assad would not be part of any transition government and would not have a role in decisions related to Syria's future.
They also condemened intervention in Syria by Hezbollah and called on the international community to help protect Syria's sovereignty. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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