(Zaman Al Wasl)- The Turkmen bloc in the opposition's National Coalition is due to participate in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Russia’s Sochi at the end of January, sources told Zaman al-Wasl.
The Kurdish National Council, another unit in the Western-backed body, may also participate in Sochi but still making further consultation with partners, sources said.
Such reports contradict with the Coalition's efforts calling for boycotting Sochi, saying Russia is pushing to keep Bashar al-Assad in power through the Dialogue Congress.
In a statement posted online last week, 40 moderate and Islamist groups said Russia seeks to keep al-Assad in power, ignoring Geneva resolutions over Syria and the principles of the revolution that erupted almost seven years ago to overthrow Damascus dictator as well to retain freedom and dignity to the Syrian people.
A roadmap for a transition in Syria outlined in a UN Security Council resolution adopted in December 2015 calls for a Syrian-led political process facilitated by the United Nations which would establish "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance" within six months and set up a schedule and process for the drafting of a new constitution to be followed by UN-supervised elections.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it is preparing the list of participants at the Dialogue Congress. As per new boundaries set by the ministry, the Syrian opposition must set aside the notion of removing al-Assad from office in order to participate at the congress.
The ministry also said that they will not allow Sochi to become an arena pro-Assad leaving. Continuation of the former only supports the opposition’s desire to continue an armed conflict, the ministry added.
The ministry also reaffirmed UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s invitation to the congress while noting the possibility of the US’s participation, but only as an observer.
Zaman A Wasl
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