(WASHINGTON, DC) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal today reiterated the Kingdom’s approach and continued efforts to reach a peaceful solution in Syria during a speech at the Geneva Conference on Syria hosted in Montreux.
“We meet today, as the Syrian crisis is nearing the end of its third year, without a glimmer of hope to stop the ongoing bloodshed of the Syrian people, and destruction and devastation in Syria, which made this crisis the biggest disaster in modern history,” said Prince Saud.
Prince Saud described the Kingdom’s continued efforts to reach a peaceful solution in Syria, along with its partners in the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Group of Friends of Syria, yet expressed disappointment in the lack of progress due to the regime’s stubbornness and insistence on resolving the conflict militarily.
“We realized that the most important content of this announcement is the formation of a transitional government with full powers in order to manage the state's affairs from political, security and military aspects. Bashar Al-Assad or any of his regime's symbols whose hands are stained with blood of Syrians will have no current or future role in this arrangement,” stated Prince Saud.
He continued, “To get Syria out of this dark tunnel, our start to the desired solution should be based on the following elements: first, immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces and armed elements of the Syrian territories, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Forces and the Hezbollah militia; second, end the fighting and lift the siege on the Syrian cities and villages, including air strikes and artillery implemented by the regime; third, find safe areas and corridors for the delivery of aid to the Syrians under international supervision; fourth, release prisoners and detainees held by the Syrian regime.”
“It is time to stop the bloodshed and end the suffering of the Syrian people. It is a favorable opportunity for us not to let down the Syrians again,” Prince Saud concluded.
