Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, has emphasized that his government will only negotiate with 'political groups' and not with armed opposition groups, which he labeled as 'terrorists.' He made these remarks in an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, which were broadcast by Syrian state television on Friday, December 20. Assad stated, 'We are ready to start negotiations with the opposition, but the opposition does not mean armed groups anywhere in the world.' He accused the United States, Saudi Arabia, and some Western countries of wanting to bring 'terrorist groups' to the negotiating table and stressed his opposition to such a scenario. These comments came a day after a meeting of several political groups opposing Bashar al-Assad, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, concluded. Regional countries and global powers agreed last month in Vienna, Austria, that January 1 (11 Dey) would be the deadline for the start of negotiations between the Syrian government and its opponents. These talks are expected to lead to the formation of a 'credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian transitional government' within six months. This government would then need to create conditions for constitutional changes and hold nationwide elections in Syria within 18 months. While Bashar al-Assad accuses the US, Saudi Arabia, and Western countries of 'supporting terrorism,' a large part of the international community and Western countries hold him responsible for the civil war in Syria, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions. For example, British Prime Minister David Cameron refers to the Syrian President as 'Butcher Assad.' In this context, the US Treasury Department has stated that Bashar al-Assad's government purchases oil from ISIS. The Saudi Foreign Minister has claimed that Iran plays a negative role in most regional issues. Abdullahian has noted that groups linked to ISIS were present at the Riyadh meeting. Bloomberg reported that the IRGC is withdrawing from combat areas in Syria.
Bashar al-Assad: I Will Not Negotiate with Armed Opposition Groups
Bashar al-Assad has declared that his government will only negotiate with political groups, rejecting any talks with armed opposition, which he labels as terrorists. This statement follows a meeting of opposition groups in Saudi Arabia and comes amid international efforts to initiate dialogue aimed at forming a transitional government in Syria. Assad's stance highlights ongoing tensions with Western powers and the complexities of the Syrian conflict.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Bashar al-Assad refuses to negotiate with armed opposition groups, calling them terrorists.
- Bashar al-Assad announce armed opposition groups
- Bashar al-Assad accuse United States, Saudi Arabia, Western countries
- Saudi Arabia meet political groups opposing Bashar al-Assad
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Assad's refusal to negotiate with armed groups complicates peace efforts in Syria.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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