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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is likely to run in June’s presidential race, casting more doubt on the upcoming Geneva 2 talks, which his opponents threatened to boycott if an invitiation made to Iran is not retracted.
The Syrian president said on Sunday there was a “significant chance” he would make a candidacy bid, two days ahead of talks set to discuss a political transitional plan that does not include his regime.
“I see no reason why I shouldn’t stand,” he said. “If there is public opinion in favour of my candidacy, I will not hesitate for a second to run for election”.
The statement slashes any chance of a solution resulting from the Geneva 2 talks that start on January 22. Peace talks are meant to build on the Geneva I accord, which called for a transitional government but made no mention of Assad’s departure.
The discussions are backed by both the United States, which supports the rebels, and Russia, a staunch Assad ally.
“The Geneva conference must lead to clear results regarding the fight against terrorism,” Assad said in an interview with the AFP news agency.
“That would be the most important result of the conference. Any political result that did not include the fight against terrorism would have no value,” said Assad, who is embroiled in an almost three-year-old war with rebels fighting to topple him.
Assad also ruled out that the Istanbul-based Syrian National Coalition to be given any ministerial positions in a new government, calling it “totally unrealistic.”
The SNC, which were to be a key player in the talks being a main opposition group, has already threatened to withdraw after an invitation was made to Tehran, a staunch backer of Assad’s regime.
A senior National Coalition member, Anas al-Abdah, has told Al Jazeera by phone that the SNC was “surprised” by the invitation to Iran, saying: “It is illogical and we cannot in any way accept it.”
“The Syrian Coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva 2 unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran’s invitation,” it said in a Twitter post quoting Louay Safi, National Coalition’s spokesman.
UN general-secretary Ban Ki-moon said Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had vowed that his country would play “positive and constructive role” if it was asked to participate.
“He has assured me that, like all the other countries invited to the opening-day discussions in Montreux, Iran understands that the basis of the talks is the full implementation of the June 30, 2012, Geneva communique,” he said.
However, Iran’s Press TV reported today that Tehran would participate in the upcoming Geneva II conference on the Syria crisis without accepting the 2012 Geneva communiqué, citing Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s Majlis, Alaeddin Boroujerdi.
This may prompt SNC’s threat to materialise, and can also bring about further withdrawals, if the invitation is not retracted.
The US suggested on Sunday it could support Iran’s participation if it explicitly declares its support of a June 2012 plan for a political transition, meaning Assad would have to step down.
“This is something Iran has never done publicly and something we have long made clear is required,” Jen Psaki, State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement.
“If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communique, the invitation must be rescinded.”
Syrian opposition groups and the US, which accuse Iran of supporting Assad with manpower and arms during the three-year uprising, have long had reservations about the participation of Iran, although Ban and the UN special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, are backing Iran’s involvement. – Al Jazeera.
Online Reporter