Syria: Assad shuns Kerry 'offer' of negotiations to end civil war
- 9 years ago
Bashar al-Assad has given a cool reception to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks that the Syrian leader should be included in talks to reach a political transition in the war-torn country.
Speaking as he met an Iranian minister in the Syrian capital, Assad said such statements “from outside do not concern us”.
He welcomed any international change in attitude to Syria’s situation as positive but
said foreign countries should stop supporting terrorist groups, a term Damascus uses for insurgents fighting his regime.
“Whether they say I remain or not, the Syrian people have the final say on this particular matter,” Assad said.
With violence still raging four years after a popular uprising first started, Kerry broke with the standard US line on Sunday, raising the prospect of negotiations with Syria’s president.
In an interview with US TV channel CBS, Kerry said: “We have to negotiate in the end,”
when asked whether the United States would be willing to talk to the Syria
Speaking as he met an Iranian minister in the Syrian capital, Assad said such statements “from outside do not concern us”.
He welcomed any international change in attitude to Syria’s situation as positive but
said foreign countries should stop supporting terrorist groups, a term Damascus uses for insurgents fighting his regime.
“Whether they say I remain or not, the Syrian people have the final say on this particular matter,” Assad said.
With violence still raging four years after a popular uprising first started, Kerry broke with the standard US line on Sunday, raising the prospect of negotiations with Syria’s president.
In an interview with US TV channel CBS, Kerry said: “We have to negotiate in the end,”
when asked whether the United States would be willing to talk to the Syria