There are no U.S. proposals to include members of the Syrian opposition in the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a U.S. official said on Friday, in a denial of comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"There is no such proposal," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that U.S. policy on Assad's departure has not changed.
He noted the 2012 Geneva Communique calls for "a transitional governing body, formed by mutual consent, with full executive powers," a policy Washington argues means Assad
must go because the opposition will never accept his staying.
Speaking in St. Petersburg, Putin said on Friday he agreed with what he said were U.S. proposals to incorporate parts of the opposition into the current Syrian government. Putin said Assad accepted there was a need for a political process.
"The U.S. proposal is absolutely acceptable. We must think about the possibilities of incorporating representatives of the opposition into the active ruling structure," Putin said.
Assad sits at the top of the active ruling structure and it did not appear there was any resolution to the underlying U.S.-Russian disagreement over whether he should stay or go.
For five years, the United States has argued that Assad has lost the legitimacy to lead Syria because of the suffering his forces have inflicted on Syrian civilians. Russia officials question who might succeed him and argue that chaos would be worse.
"There is no such proposal," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that U.S. policy on Assad's departure has not changed.
He noted the 2012 Geneva Communique calls for "a transitional governing body, formed by mutual consent, with full executive powers," a policy Washington argues means Assad
must go because the opposition will never accept his staying.
Speaking in St. Petersburg, Putin said on Friday he agreed with what he said were U.S. proposals to incorporate parts of the opposition into the current Syrian government. Putin said Assad accepted there was a need for a political process.
"The U.S. proposal is absolutely acceptable. We must think about the possibilities of incorporating representatives of the opposition into the active ruling structure," Putin said.
Assad sits at the top of the active ruling structure and it did not appear there was any resolution to the underlying U.S.-Russian disagreement over whether he should stay or go.
For five years, the United States has argued that Assad has lost the legitimacy to lead Syria because of the suffering his forces have inflicted on Syrian civilians. Russia officials question who might succeed him and argue that chaos would be worse.
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