President Assad outlines political solution to Syrian conflict

international | anti-war | other press Sunday January 06, 2013 12:31 by Elric

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Syria’s president has outlined a plan to end the country's conflict, starting with a halt to international support to “al Qaeda-linked terrorist groups.” The solution proposes a new constitution and government, as well as national reconciliation. President Bashar Assad said that his government had never refused a political solution, but would not negotiate with terrorists. He then stressed that the only solution was a Syrian proposal to end the crisis.

“The political solution entails regional and international powers halting their support for armed groups, which will be followed by a halt in our security forces' crackdown against them,” Assad said in his first public address to the people of Syria since June

An image grab taken from the state-run Syrian TV shows Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad making a public address on the latest developments in the country and the region on January 6, 2013 (AFP Photo)

He claimed the move would be followed by dialogue with all parties who work in Syria’s interests, in the form of a national conference on the creation of a truce and the drafting of a new constitution to be put to public vote. The charter would form the basis of the new Syrian government.

The final step would be a national reconciliation process, including amnesty for those imprisoned during the crisis.

Assad stated that his government had not yet found any partners willing to back a solution to Syria’s ongoing crisis. However, he did thank Russia, China and Iran for not “interfering in Syrian affairs.”