Syria Without Peace Partners for Diplomatic Conflict Resolution
by Stephen Lendman
Assad long sought peaceful conflict resolution without preconditions. He stressed Syrians alone must decide who’ll lead them, free from foreign interference as international law requires.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem repeated Syria’s long-held position in talks with pro-Western mediator Staffan de Mistura.
US-supported opposition elements and Western powers demanding political transition (aka regime change) is wholly unacceptable. Syrians overwhelmingly reject it.
De Mistura stressed it in upcoming talks beginning April 13, showing which side he’s on.
Ceasefire is pure fantasy. Al-Muallem blasted Turkey and Saudi Arabia for multiple daily breaches. Russia’s reconciliation center located at Khmeimim airbase in Syria reports them each day.
Terrorists continue attacking government forces, wanting peace talks derailed – with full support from Washington and regional rogue states.
An unnamed opposition member said “ceasefire is about to collapse.” Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s main international affairs advisor, Ali Akbar Velayati, said John Kerry asked Iran to help assure Assad leaves.
He responded saying “(w)e should ask them: What does this have to do with you? Shouldn’t the Syrian people (alone) decide?”
“From Iran’s point of view, Bashar Assad and his government should remain as a legal government and legal president until the end of his term.”
“And (he) should be able to take part in a presidential election as any Syrian citizen. Their precondition that (he) should go is a red line for us.”
On April 13, Syrian parliamentary elections are scheduled, independent international observers to monitor the process. Ruling Ba’ath Party candidates and allies are expected to prevail easily.
Expect Western officials and supportive media scoundrels to cry foul – their customary response to free, fair and open elections not going the way they want.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
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