The spokesperson for the opposition delegation, Wael Alwan, said that the climate in the fourth round of Geneva talks does not call for optimism, and that the opposition insists that "it is impossible for criminals to have a role in Syria’s future."
In an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), Alwan said that the opposition cannot accept Bashar al-Assad remaining in power. "We are not talking about a person here, but about a regime and its security branches. These security branches have carried out crimes and massacres and have ruled Syria with tyranny throughout 40 years," he said adding that the Syrian people started a revolution to claim freedom and democracy and that Assad cannot rule as a tyrant forever.
Alwan mentioned that the recent report on Saydnaya Prison "was enough to condemn Bashar al-Assad as a war criminal," adding that Assad's other crimes included sieges against civilians, the bombardment of civilians with barrel bombs, and the use of internationally-banned chemical weapons."
About the opposition’s vision for the Geneva talks, Alwan said that: "the climate does not call for optimism." He attributed it to the fact that the ceasefire and the Astana agreements were not implemented. "If these talks had really translated on the ground, there would be a very positive climate to begin the political transition process," he said.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
