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Syrian opposition stresses rejection to foreign intervention

15 October 2011 17:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Syrian opposition stressed Saturday its rejection to foreign intervention in internal affairs, saying a serious dialogue is the sole safe outlet to the months- long crisis, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Qadri Jamil, member of the Popular Front for Change and Liberation in Syria, warned during a press conference that the crisis in the country, if it drags on for a long time, would eventually "threaten the world peace."

Only a serious overall national dialogue would bring the country out of the current crisis, Jamil said.

Jamil denied that his front had contacts with the U.S. ambassador to Damascus Robert Ford, saying that "contacting the enemy is a national betrayal."

He urged the Syrian authorities to expel Ford, whom he said has "encroached upon all diplomatic norms."

Jamil also called on the government to nationalize all U.S. and European oil companies "whose countries are participating in tightening the siege on our country."

The opposition front said in a statement that preparations must be made for dialogue, including immediate measures to build confidence among the Syrian people, releasing all political detainees, calling a halt to all violence and arbitrary arrests and ending all armed aspects in the country.

"A radical and genuine reform is a fair demand," the statement said, noting the need to contact with other opposition parties.

On Tuesday, Jamil along with six other opposition figures representing Syria’s moderate opposition parties visited Moscow to promote the demands of Syrian opposition at home.

Following talks with Russian Foreign Ministry officials, Jamil told reporters that Syrian opposition is poised for a dialogue with the authorities, which may well start either in Syria or Moscow.

Jamil said the delegation "even blamed them (the Russians) for contacting some non-patriotic opposition parties that call for foreign intervention" in Syria’s internal affairs.

He criticized the Syrian National Council newly established in Istanbul as a non-patriotic opposition. "There shouldn’t be any dialogue with those who call for foreign intervention," Jamil said.

He also played down expectations that the council could be recognized by some countries, saying "it is impossible."