Syrian opposition wants govt in exile

2012-10-31 21:39

Silivri - All Syrian opposition groups called on Wednesday for a rapid formation of a government in exile in order to win greater political support from the international community.

"The conference agreed on the need to put aside our ideological differences to agree on creating a government in exile," said the participants in a statement after a three-day workshop in Silivri, near Istanbul.

The conference was organised by the Syrian Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, a think tank.

"It would be in the form of a transitional government to grab more political support from the international and Arab community, in order to support the revolution."

Radwan Ziadeh, head of the Syrian think tank, said: "All the attendees which include all the political parties of Syria agreed that a general assembly should be held and from this, the government in exile will be elected."

He added: "Many countries, France and Arab countries and others, have called on the Syrian opposition to form a transitional government to be recognised. That's what we are trying to do."

In late August, French President Francois Hollande urged the Syrian opposition to form a "provisional, inclusive and representative" government.

"France will recognise the provisional government of the new Syria as soon as it is formed," he said.

Ziadeh said the General Assembly intended to form such a government should meet "inside Syria, in liberated areas if possible," but noted that the timing of such a gathering was not yet clear.

Recognition

Syrian defectors' army commander-in-chief Major General Muhammed Hussein al-Haj Ali said the transitional government needs to get a guarantee from the world that it will be recognised.

"We have to emphasise and let people know we are working together," he said.

The three-day workshop attended by representative from all fragments of the Syrian opposition focused on the basics of a fully fledged political transformation in Syria, with the aim of developing a common vision for the country's future after the departure of President Bashar Assad's regime.

The participants all agreed to take the 1950 Syrian Constituton as a reference for a new and democratic constitution to be drafted by the transitional government, according to Ziadeh, who noted that the Free Syrian Army would not have a role in politics but continue to "protect the country and its people".

More than 150 Syrian opposition members including those from the Syrian National Council and military leaders of the Free Syrian Army participated in the workshop that began on Monday.

- AFP