PARIS
Friends of Syrian People "Core Group" convened in French capital Paris on Sunday and ministers of the participating countries said Geneva 2 should go ahead with the Syrian opposition participating.
The meeting, hosted by France, was attended by Turkey, US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan as well as a delegation from the Syrian opposition led by Ahmad el-Jarba.
Geneva 2 will be held on January 22, aiming to end the Syrian civil war by bringing together the Syrian regime and the opposition to discuss a transitional government for Syria.
The members of the group discussed the details of the peace conference to be held on January 22 with the Syrian opponents during the meeting.
Speaking to press in the aftermath of the meeting, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said, " There is no solution apart from a political solution to end the crisis in the country and there will be no political solution for Syria unless Geneva 2 meets."
The head of Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, Ahmad al-Jarba, also attended the meeting and said, “The most important aspect of today’s meeting is that we all agree to say that the Assad and his family has no future in Syria.”
A communiqué was released at the end of the meeting saying Syrian people must decide on their future with their free will as well as strongly condemning the Syrian regime's attacks in the country.
The communiqué also asked Russia and Iran to put their weight on the regime for a peaceful solution and to end clashes, adding those who commit war crimes must appear before the war crimes tribunal.
In addition, it called on all armed groups in Syria to respect democratic and pluralist values as well as allowing humanitarian aid and press in the region.
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