Syrian Opposition Reverses Decision to Boycott International Conference

Photo Credit: France 24 News

The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) reversed its decision to boycott a conference in Rome designed to help raise funds and political support for the Syrian opposition. After a phone call between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and SNC leader Mouaz al-Khatib, a spokesman for the SNC announced the decision and the group’s Facebook page said that Kerry had “promised specific aid to alleviate the suffering of our people.”  The opposition group originally boycotted the “Friends of Syria” meeting because they were skeptical of Western sincerity, but Kerry and a group of American diplomats worked to allay these concerns in “an unusual personal entreaty.” The coalition is still hoping for military assistance–which the U.S. has not provided–but Kerry stated on Monday that he is determined “to change the calculation on the ground for President Assad,” and that ”the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind.”

Kerry is currently on his first overseas trip as Secretary of State and will be meeting with foreign officials across Europe and the Middle East. He talked about Syria with the British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday, and discussed plans for a transitional government in Syria with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Tuesday.  In looking forward to the international “Friends of Syria” conference in Rome later this week, Kerry stated “We are coming to Rome to make a decision about next steps and perhaps even other options that may or may not be discussed further after that.”