Bashar al-Assad\u2019s Syrian regime \u201cdoes not have a future\u201d. This was the message to emerge from the meeting of the \u201cFriends of Syria\u201d Group in Paris on Sunday 12 January. Participants included the President of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba, and the foreign ministers of 11 countries, including Emma Bonino and the American Secretary of State, John Kerry. <\/P>
\n
Against the background of continuing violence in Syria, the goal of the Paris meeting was to discuss the Syrian opposition\u2019s as yet uncertain participation at the \u201cGeneva 2\u201d peace conference scheduled to start in Switzerland on 22 January. At the close of the meeting, Minister Bonino announced that and international humanitarian conference will be held in Rome on 3 February at the invitation of the UN.<\/P>
\n
Syrian national coalition must attend Geneva 2<\/STRONG><\/P> \u201cWe urge the National Coalition to respond positively to the invitation to set up the Syrian opposition delegation\u201d to attend the Geneva 2 negotiations, stated the 11 \u201cFriends of Syria\u201d countries in the closing statement adopted in Paris. \u201cThe Geneva II Conference\u201d, stated the 11, is aimed at \u201callowing the Syrian people to control its future and put an end to the current despotic regime through a genuine political transition\u201d.<\/P> Opposition must overcome its differences, says Bonino<\/STRONG><\/P> The Coalition has not yet decided whether it will be attending Geneva 2, and will discuss the conference at an internal meeting on 17 January. Speaking in Paris, Coalition leader Jarba admitted that \u201csome members of the Coalition still have questions, doubts and fears as to the success of \u2018Geneva 2\u2019\u201d, and underscored that this is a crucial time for Syria\u2019s destiny. <\/P> Minister Bonino also expressed concern over the Coalition\u2019s internal divisions. \u201cWe told the Syrian opposition coalition that with these internal differences, the risk is that people will forget the atrocities committed by the regime\u201d, warned the minister. She recalled the Assad regime\u2019s grave responsibilities: \u201c\u201cIt is unthinkable that those responsible for 130,000 deaths can stay in power\u201d. <\/P>
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n