Syrian gov't not to negotiate with "terrorists"

Syria’s Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi stressed his country’s readiness to take part in the planned Geneva II conference without preconditions, but made it clear that the Syrian government will not negotiate with “ terrorists or Takfiris,” according to the state-run SANA news agency.

While stressing that the “political solution has been an original choice for the Syrian government since the beginning of aggression on Syria,” al-Zoubi said Syria will not negotiate with terrorists who took part in shedding the Syrians’ blood or their supporters, whether they were Syrians or not.

The Syrian government has, since the beginning of the crisis, accused regional and international powers of supporting the rebellion in Syria, which has turned into a sectarian conflict featuring al-Qaida-affiliated groups which are fighting against the Syrian administration.

The minister’s remarks were made just hours after Arab League ( AL) chief Nabil al-Arabi said the second Syria peace conference will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on Nov. 23-24.

Al-Arabi said he was informed of the date by visiting UN-AL joint special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at the Pan-Arab body’ s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday.

During their meeting, the two evaluated the regional and international efforts toward a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and discussed the current preparation for the conference and the contacts made with Syria’s conflicting sides, especially with the national opposition coalition.

Cairo is the first leg of Brahimi’s regional tour in preparation for the long-awaited peace conference, which has been delayed multiple times.

“The arrangements are being made to prepare for this conference, ” Arabi told reporters after his meeting with Brahimi.

However, the AL chief admitted that “a lot of challenges should be tackled to convene the conference.”

He added that “Geneva II” is needed to implement the document of the first conference, which calls for a transitional period and an interim government composed of members from both the administration and the opposition.

On Saturday, Brahimi said there should be no preconditions for any side to attend the peace talks. But, during Sunday’s press conference, he said, “The conference will not be convened without convincing the opposition” to participate.

He expressed hopes that the second peace conference will end the Syrian crisis and lead to a transitional stage to build a new Syria.

He added that the situation in Syria is worsening as at least 100,000 have been killed, and one third of the Syrian people are suffering from diseases, displacement and detention.

“All parties should realize that the situation in Syria is dangerous for the global peace,” Brahimi said.