Syrian National Coalition Chief Ahmad Al-Jarba, left, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, center, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier talk together prior to a press conference at the foreign ministry in Paris on Sunday. – AP PARIS – Ahmad Al-Jarba, head of Syria's National Coalition (SNC), has announced that the Foreign Ministers of Syria's Friends had agreed that President Bashar Al-Assad and his family will have no role in the country's future. This came in the joint press conference held in Paris on Sunday with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after the conclusion of the meeting of Syria's Friends including the Kingdom. Al-Jarba added that the participants agreed that a transfer of power in Syria is inevitable, pointing out that important decisions regarding removal of Al-Assad were taken. Meeting of 11 Foreign Ministers “Basic Group” for Group of Friends of Syria is began recently with participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United States, Britain, Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Italy and Turkey. The two-day series of meetings in Paris came a week before the scheduled talks in Switzerland. US Secretary of State John Kerry joined 10 other foreign ministers to urge Ahmed Al-Jarba to deliver his coalition to the Switzerland talks. The Syrian put the best face on the group's precarious position. “We have made clear the reality of the situation on the ground,” he said, flanked by the diplomats. “We have addressed issues, preoccupations and worries that we know exist.” Officials in France say they hope the outcome of the Paris meetings will lay the groundwork for the peace talks to proceed. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the talks were the only hope for a political solution in Syria, “the only prospect that can lead to a true solution.” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made clear that the series of meetings, which include talks with the Russian leadership, would include pressure for the peace conference. “We want to do some persuading here and clear away the last obstacles that might exist — at least try to do that,” Steinmeier said. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the coalition had, in fact, agreed last fall to attend the meeting, but since then has reconsidered as the result of renewed violence and brutality he blamed on the regime. – Agencies
