Turkey a partner for SNC

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

The leader of the largest Syrian opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council (SNC) Burhan Galion said the SNC’s efforts within the international arena would continue together with the Turkish government. 

“Turkey has become a partner for the SNC. We have the same outlook towards the uprising in Syria and towards the Syrian people,” Galion said in a press conference held by SNC executive committee members in Istanbul. 

During their meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Jan. 8, Galion said they had proposed holding an international conference on Syria in Turkey and Davutoğlu’s response was highly positive. The Turkish Foreign Ministry was not available to immediately comment on the issue. 

The SNC branded yesterday’s speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as an “incitement to violence,” indicating “more criminal behavior” by the regime.

Galion also said al-Assad’s speech indicated the regime “is breaking up with the Arab League,” which has sent observers to Syria in a bid to try to halt the bloodshed the United Nations says has killed over 5,000 people. “There is incitement to violence, an incitement to civil strife and some talk about sectarian divisions, which the regime itself has fomented and encouraged,” said Basma Qadmani, a member of the SNC. 

In a speech lasting almost two hours, al-Assad blamed foreign plotters for 10 months of protests against his regime and said his government would tackle terrorism with an “iron fist.” 

“Our concern today is such a speech is quite indicative of the total dismissal by the regime of the international community,” Qadmani said at the press conference. “It is an indication we are going in the direction of more irresponsible and more criminal behavior by the regime in the coming days and weeks,” she said. “This is a turning point, a rupture with its Arab environment.”