Syrian government 'ready to negotiate on everything', Assad says

[anatta]

president Bashar al-Assad indicates he is willing to consider the possibility of stepping down in free elections if rebels agree to restarting peace talks later this month
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ssad-step-down-rebels-ceasefire-a7516726.html

Asked if he would be willing to step down as president - a demand the rebels have insisted on throughout the conflict - Mr Assad said "yes, but my position is linked to the constitution."

"If [the opposition] want to discuss this point they must discuss the constitution," he said. Any constitutional matters must be put to a referendum and the people would elect any president, he added.

Mr Assad's position in the war has been significantly bolstered following the recapture of the northern city of Aleppo last month, which was the last rebel urban stronghold in the country.

 

[anatta]

January of this year

 

[Element-22-Cat]

January of this year

Did the rebels agree to restarting peace talks later that month?

 

[anatta]

Did the rebels agree to restarting peace talks later that month?

Suicide bombings by militants in the town of Homs and airstrikes by government warplanes in recent days in northwest Syria have rattled United Nations-led peace talks aimed at finding a resolution to the six-year-long conflict in Syria.

The warring sides have accused each other of seeking to wreck a peace process that has been limping along for months. Even before these latest developments, the signs indicated there would be no breakthrough this week in Geneva talks overseen by U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura.

The only good thing that can be said about the Geneva-based process so far is that both opposition and regime delegations have remained in the Swiss town, albeit grudgingly.
http://www.voanews.com/a/why-no-geneva-breakthrough-in-syrian-peace-talks/3743778.html

 

[Cypress]

president Bashar al-Assad indicates he is willing to consider the possibility of stepping down in free elections if rebels agree to restarting peace talks later this month
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ssad-step-down-rebels-ceasefire-a7516726.html

January 2017

Asked if he would be willing to step down as president - a demand the rebels have insisted on throughout the conflict - Mr Assad said "yes, but my position is linked to the constitution."

"If [the opposition] want to discuss this point they must discuss the constitution," he said. Any constitutional matters must be put to a referendum and the people would elect any president, he added.

Mr Assad's position in the war has been significantly bolstered following the recapture of the northern city of Aleppo last month, which was the last rebel urban stronghold in the country.

Wait, is this the "post random stories from a few month ago" thread??

Germans now find US as trustworthy as Russia, poll shows
Only 22 per cent of Germans think US is trustworthy now that Donald Trump is in the White House

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...putin-white-house-muslim-ban-eu-a7562276.html

 

[Element-22-Cat]

Suicide bombings by militants in the town of Homs and airstrikes by government warplanes in recent days in northwest Syria have rattled United Nations-led peace talks aimed at finding a resolution to the six-year-long conflict in Syria.

The warring sides have accused each other of seeking to wreck a peace process that has been limping along for months. Even before these latest developments, the signs indicated there would be no breakthrough this week in Geneva talks overseen by U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura.

The only good thing that can be said about the Geneva-based process so far is that both opposition and regime delegations have remained in the Swiss town, albeit grudgingly.
http://www.voanews.com/a/why-no-geneva-breakthrough-in-syrian-peace-talks/3743778.html

So basically there aren't any meaningful peace negotiations going on between the Syrian government and the rebels.

So what's the actual relevance of Assad's claim that he was willing to negotiate on everything including stepping down some three months ago?

 

[blackascoal]

Too easy ..

Now I'm sure of it.

The only question left is will it work.

 

[Jarod]

president Bashar al-Assad indicates he is willing to consider the possibility of stepping down in free elections if rebels agree to restarting peace talks later this month
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ssad-step-down-rebels-ceasefire-a7516726.html

Asked if he would be willing to step down as president - a demand the rebels have insisted on throughout the conflict - Mr Assad said "yes, but my position is linked to the constitution."

"If [the opposition] want to discuss this point they must discuss the constitution," he said. Any constitutional matters must be put to a referendum and the people would elect any president, he added.

Mr Assad's position in the war has been significantly bolstered following the recapture of the northern city of Aleppo last month, which was the last rebel urban stronghold in the country.

Pure Propaganda, Assad wants to look like the reasonable one.... You are falling for it.