Friends of Syria urge opposition group to attend Geneva II talks

Representaties of 11 nations meeting in London urged Syria's opposition National Coalition to "commit" to a planned international conference, dubbed Geneva II, to discuss their country's future amid its internal conflict, following similar talks in 2012. The attending Friends of Syria group of nations, or London 11, unanimously welcomed the UN Security Council agreement on the urgent need for a political transition in Syria and its endorsement of the Geneva communique, the objective of which is the formation by mutual consent of a Transitional Governing Body (TGB), over which Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his close associates will have no role in as a result of their actions during the conflict. "We strongly condemn the regime's escalating indiscriminate attacks, including use of sarin, Scud missiles, air and artillery strikes and brutality on the ground," added the communique, calling on the Syrian regime to "commit itself to the full implementation of the Geneva Communique, and demonstrate that commitment through its actions at Geneva II." The document expressed grave concern "at the appalling humanitarian situation" in Syria, and called for "urgent action to increase humanitarian support, and the granting of full and unfettered access, including for cross-line and cross-border efforts into and within Syria," and to continue providing international support of neighbouring countries "generously hosting Syrian refugees." London 11 expressed "growing concern" at the spread of extremism and extremist groups, and "called for Iran, Hezbollah and all other foreign fighters and forces to withdraw from Syria," describing these elements as posing "a threat to moderate forces, the territorial integrity of Syria and to regional and international security." They also welcomed the UN Security Council's agreement to ensure the elimination of the Syrian regime's chemical weapons. "All the evidence on the 21 August attack points clearly to regime culpability, which reinforces the need for full implementation of UNSCR 2118," said the communique. On the objectives of the planned Geneva II talks, it said that the "conference must lead to a political transition based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communiqu{ of June 30, 2012, while preserving the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian State. " "The negotiations will take place, through the mediation of the Joint Special Representative, between a single delegation of the Syrian regime and a single delegation of the opposition, of which the Syrian National Coalition should be the heart and lead, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people," it added. The eventual agreement, which will be signed by the two conflicting sides (Syrian government and opposition) certified by the participating states, and endorsed in a United Nations Security Council Resolution, shall be enforceable, it went on to underline. "Participating states in Geneva II, in particular the permanent members of the Security Council, will share the responsibility for ensuring the full implementation of the political transition in Syria, including ensuring serious consequences in the event of non-compliance. "We are prepared as a group to pursue all possible options to secure compliance," concluded the communique, in reference to the planned talks sometime in November which aim to put an end to the over two and a half year conflict.