The head of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba (pictured), has repeated that the opposition will not attend political talks in Geneva without a commitment that President Assad will leave power.
“We cannot be part of those responsible for shedding the blood of our people,” Jarba said at a news conference on Tuesday following his discussion with the Friends of Syria core group in London.
He continued, “If we say yes to Geneva 2 conference, people will cry out for the downfall of the conference. Our people have grown weary of false promises and empty words. What right are you asking us to shoulder this huge responsibility?”
Like US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted, “Assad would play no role in a peaceful and democratic Syria.”
However, neither Hague nor the 11 members of the Friends of Syria indicated how they would persuade Assad — particularly in light of the retreat of Washington from intervention — to step aside.
Instead, Kerry offered the confusing statement, “I don’t know anybody including the Russians and others in the region who are not part of the support group who believe there is a military solution to this conflict. It is clear both sides will continue to fight, and to fight, and to fight.”
OPCW Says It Uses “Low-Tech” Methods To Render Chemical Facilities “Inoperable”
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons told reporters on Wednesday that its inspectors in Syria was using low-tech methods to “render inoperable” the ” the critical equipment that is at the heart of the production facility, or that runs the mixing and filling units” of Assad’s chemical weapons facilities.
Michael Luhan of the OPCW went on to say, “I don’t have any specific details about the destruction activities, other than that they are using low-tech methods that we had discussed some weeks ago when we were just starting the mission up. That, you know, it involves smashing things, cutting things, in some cases using cement and other things; smashing things with heavy vehicles, one or all of those activities. But all low-tech and quick and cheap.”
The transcript of the OPCW’s press conference can be read here.
UN Announces Trilaterial Syria Meeting On November 5
The UN has announced a November 5 trilateral meeting on Syria between Washington, Moscow and UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, according to Ban Ki Moon. There will also be a follow-up meeting later that day that will include the other three permanent representatives of the UN Security Council — China, France and the UK.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Brahimi said that only a political solution would help end the conflict.
“The Syrian crisis is suffocating and dangerous. It threatens Syria and the entire region. It is the most dangerous to stability and security” Brahimi said during the meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
Iran Moves Closer to “Friends of Syria” and US, Welcomes Initiative for “Political Solution”
In another sign of Tehran’s movement towards the Friends of Syria — which includes the US and European powers as well as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf States — Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has welcomed Tuesday’s meeting of the group in London.
Abdollahian said it was encouraging to see the gathering put more emphasis on the importance of a political initiative, declaring that everyone should help Syria fight “terrorism” and “extremist” and “Takfiri” [Muslim heretic] forces.
Tehran has warmed towards the line taken by the US since Washington pulled back from intervention in Syria after the Assad regime’s chemical weapons attacks of August 21.
Iran is hoping that, amid the recent rapprochment over nuclear talks, it can join high-level discussions on Syria’s future. The US has long resisted Tehran’s place at the top table.
(Cross-posted from Iran Round-Up)
Casualties
The Local Coordination Committees claim 77 people were killed on Tuesday, including 28 in Damascus and its suburbs, 21 in Aleppo Province, and 10 in Homs Province.
The Violations Documentation Center records that 76,420 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in March 2011, an increase of 64 since Tuesday. Of the dead, 56,881 are civilians, a rise of 28 from yesterday.
