Syrian opposition must abandon arms for talks: Commentator
Press TV has interviewed Hazem Salem, a political activist and commentator in Cairo, about Russia saying representatives from the Syrian government and opposition groups could partake in upcoming peace negotiations in the Russian capital.
Following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: One of the things that Russia has said is that we still need to differentiate between the terrorists and the opposition. Why is that still such a thorny issue? Obviously that is in reference to the countries that are supporting either or both.
Salem: The fact is this thing is a very controversial thing and this is one of things that can make more complications to the negotiations. The ones invited to negotiate are the ones who want a peaceful settlement and this excludes whomever is still wanting to revert to arms and to any terrorist activity, and if there are some people who can abandon the violent move and go for negotiations, this would be welcomed at the negotiation table. Most of the negotiation table worldwide comes with militants who abandon their arms and come in order to make a deal and make a settlement and this should be the spirit that drives on and I think that the Russian or Iranian comments…is pushing towards that thing. So we need to negotiate for peace deals or ceasefires here and there and then invite the people to abandon their arms and start thinking anew about the future of Syria.
And this will corner the terrorists and make them without a cause because they say that there is no room for political action and we will go for military action, but in order to do that, you have to invite people to abandon the use of arms and come as negotiators for the sake of Syria, for the future of Syria and to keep it independent and capable of carrying its main cause which is the Palestinian issue, maintaining Syria as a resistance side not to give up Syria and to make it aback for the security of Israel like Egypt and Jordan and maybe many of the [Persian] Gulf countries.
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