In the wake of talks among various rebel factions in Saudi Arabia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared to put the kibosh on the prospect of peace talks, saying he refuses to negotiate with any of the “terrorist groups,” which Syrian officials broadly mean as rebels in general, who are still armed factions.
The Saudi conference ended with an agreement on confirming a committee to seek talks, though they have demanded Assad unconditionally be removed as part of any deal. The committee is reportedly going to be dominated by armed factions.
The Saudi conference and the committee it is producing includes only a fragment of the rebel movement in Syria at any rate, as many of the rebel groups weren’t invited, including every single Kurdish faction. Ahrar al-Sham, a large, al-Qaeda-linked faction, was at the talks, but walked out, and it’s unclear if they’ll be part of the committee.
Russia has been trying to get Syria’s government and rebels together on the deal to unite against ISIS, and has been pressing Assad on the matter. Today’s comments are a rare Assad rebuke of the effort, as he’s previously just offered vague support for the notion.
I'd take them all as terrorists–some of whom are 'rebelling.'
…wouldn't say the current Syrian gov't put the kibosh on anything. Others have presumed to pick it's negotiating partners, and many of those others have a history of destroying countries ostensibly to unseat governments (most recently in a pattern apparently predicted by Yinon/Wesley Clark). They're not worth the time, much less who they'd back. They themselves couldn't be fixed until enough people are willing to be killed or worse rather than accommodate them.
If Assad wins the war against the SAUDI proxy army of "IS" he should march on to Riyad and topple this corrupt regime. 99% of the arabs would celebrate this.
It doesn't suit either side to negotiate. Assad seems to be certain that nay negotiation will lead to his removal, even if not immediately. The rebels seem to believe that they can have it all if theyjust sit back and let Putin make a mess of everything (which, on past performance, is what he's most likely to do). Everybody else wants to see Putin thoroughly bogged down since even if he "wins", he loses!
One would ask the question would America talk to Al Qaeda!…………………………What a stupid question they are in fact funding Al Nusra formerly known as Al Qaeda in Iraq!
Just think the terrorists America was fighting just a few years ago, are know in fact fighting for America, but remember they were in fact fighting for America even before that in Afghanistan!
Bashar had his chances to peacefully resolve the public protestation early 2011,and reach a peaceful settlement, but he chose to resort to arms rather than negotiate.For eight months ,peaceful demonstration kept iits peaceful cource asking for constitutional minor changes and lifting some harsh measures applied by Syrian secret services, with no response from Bashar who insisted not to give up to such demands.now with more than half of the pupulation in exile and 90 percent of Syria being destroyed , Bashar with Puten's backing , has the nerve to dictate his conditions on what's left of the Syrian people. It would be an isult for humanity should bashar remain in power after all the crimes he committed against his people.