​​​​​​​Ilham Ahmed: Syrian regime agreed to start political negotiations with Russian mediation

Ilham Ahmed said during an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper: that meetings were held with a Russian delegate at Hmeimim base, as “the Russian delegate was commissioned by the Russian Foreign Ministry, after he held meetings with all parties in northeastern Syria, from Kurdish party leaders, and Arab personalities and Christianity, the end of last year, and therefore, our meeting last week complements the first meeting.

Ilham Ahmed explained that Hmeimim's meetings were lengthy and "included a set of questions in the first session, the most prominent of which is how to develop dialogue, and are we part of the dialogue or not? and within what framework are these dialogues taking place?"

She added: "We are still discussing the first letters of the talks process with the Syrian government, and the transition of dialogue to serious discussions that requires setting an agenda and an action plan to discuss its details through specialized committees."

Ahmed indicated that "there is a" seriousness from the Russians in playing the role of mediator and guarantor of the political process, and the launching of discussions with the government, and pledged to pressure it to accept a comprehensive settlement, and promised to manifest these promises in the coming days. "

 And added: «After the discussions ended in Hmeimim, we traveled to Damascus the next day, and we met with Major General Ali Mamlouk (Head of the National Security Office), and we met in the presence of the Russian envoy.

She continued: «I am waiting for the words to be converted into actions, and this will be proven by practical steps, the launch of a comprehensive dialogue related to determining the fate of the Syrian people, and an area that is part of the Syrian state, addressing urgent national issues, and dealing with them in a spirit of responsibility, not in the spirit of hostility and betting on a military solution.

"We hear from time to time, through the words of senior Syrian officials, the language of threat and intimidation, and if we do not accept dialogue, they will bring weapons, and this is totally and completely rejected."

 I come back and say: These thorny issues must be addressed through dialogue, keeping the region away from the specter of wars, and protecting its children who have suffered both from terrorist organizations such as ISIS, (Jabhat al-Nusra) and (Free Army factions) loyal to Turkey."

Ilham Ahmed said: «We were always ready for the stage of negotiations, whether it was in Geneva or directly with the government, so we worked on a draft constitution, and other specialized committees, and we have a clear vision about the solution, and dialogue can take place on issues including simple and easy way to open the way for solving complex issues, but the issue of the rights of nationalities remains above constitutionalism, and it will remain a permanent file on the table, in all places.

And added that the place of dialogue is not important «and what matters for a settlement that satisfies the Syrian people, and meets the aspirations of the desired change».

She noted that the meeting with the Syrian regime did not address the issue of natural resources, and «of course it is a file that has a major role in influencing the negotiating process, and we believe it is necessary to preserve it now until we reach a political map of the solution in Syria as a whole».

She added: "The topic of" the Syrian Democratic Forces "is" a military issue discussed by the leaders and military officials of the forces, and in the event of reaching a comprehensive agreement, these forces will be part of the defense and state protection system, but defining their role and areas of their deployment and the form of their involvement is too early to delve into Its details until we hear the government side, and its perception on these issues ».

T/S

ANHA