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(Image source: Russian Council / Wikimedia Commons)
BY ZACH TOOMBS
A meeting between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar al-Assad’s chief remaining
allies is prompting renewed hope for a diplomatic solution to the nation’s two-year civil
war.
Al Jazeera reports a meeting on the sidelines of a Munich security conference marked the
opposition’s first talks with Russia and Iran. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was also
in attendance. The BBC shows, despite differing views, he and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov spoke
frankly about Syria on Saturday.
BIDEN: “President Assad, a tyrant, hell bent on clinging to power, is no longer fit
to lead.” LAVROV: “The persistence of those who say
that priority number one is the removal of President Assad, I think … is the single
biggest reason for continuing tragedy in Syria.”
Syrian opposition leader Mouaz al-Khatib also expressed willingness to talk with his nation’s
government — and he’s been invited to further talks in Moscow. The UN estimates
at least 60,000 people have been killed since the Syrian civil war began. [Video: Sky News]
Russia, Iran and China have long been reluctant toward intervening in Syria. Russia, especially,
which relies on Syria for weapons purchases, has urged the international community to let
Syria find a solution on its own.
The opposition’s newfound willingness to negotiate with Assad could be the result of
a speech the unelected leader delivered three weeks ago, in which he expressed openness
to talking about government transition with rebel leaders. [Video: YouTube / PressTV]
But a major hurdle in those negotiations could be deciding whether or not Assad will be a
part of any future Syrian government. So far, that’s been a point of contention on which
neither side seems willing to budge.