Syrian Opposition Demands Mediation Between Algeria, Bachar el-Assad

Syrian opposition demanded the mediation between Algeria and President Bachar el-Assad, confirming that Algeria is a “fair mediator”. In return, Algeria informed the opposition delegation about condemning “foreign interference in the Syrian crisis.”

Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, received a delegation from the Syrian opposition led by the head of the Syrian opposition negotiating body, Nasr el Hariri, last week, which is the first meeting between an official Algerian body and the Syrian opposition, since the crisis broke out seven years ago, as Echorouk informed sources said that the meeting was held at the invitation of Algeria.

“The two sides reviewed aspects of the Syrian crisis that left hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of displaced”, they added.

“The opposition delegation assured the Algerian party that the solution will be Syrian, and that it will never be military”.

Syrian delegation also said: “Syria revolution was peaceful at the beginning, but it deviated to violence because of the regime that provided an opportunity for extremists from all over the world. What happened by the opposition that resorted to weapons is a reaction to the violence that the Syrian people have suffered”.

On this issue, the source said that the delegation which is headed by the head of the negotiating body of the Syrian opposition, Nasr el Hariri, reviewed what he called “documents that are proving the crimes committed by Bachar el-Assad regime and the sectarian cleansing that is practiced by the Shiite militias”.

Concerning the future of Bachar el-Assad, according to the perspective of the opposition, the same source added; “The delegation asserted that the opposition supports a peaceful political solution, and that the regime committed crimes against the Syrian people, and should not be a partner in the future, at least icons of the regime”.

In this context, Algeria’s guests proposed to mediate with the regime, and Algeria responded that it would make every effort within the framework of the Arab League to take positions for the benefit of the Syrian people, with condemning the violence against the Syrian people, and the external interventions that were held to reach a settlement for the political peace, while taking care of other meetings.

The meeting, which brought together a sovereign political party in Algeria with a party in the political opposition, was a “major shift” from Algeria towards the opposition, and this is the first meeting that gathers them, especially since Algeria is one of the few countries that did not cut its relationships with the Syrian regime, and also retained its Syrian ambassador to Damascus, and the ambassador of Syria to Algiers, and opposed the exclusion of Syria from the membership of the Arab League, which took place during the Arab summit that was held in Doha, when Syria was represented then by the former head, Moaz el Khatib.

Some observers followed the position that was adopted by Algeria in the Syrian crisis by keeping diplomatic relationships as they were prior to the date of March 2011. Moreover, important visits were made to the officials of the two countries in the form of the Foreign Minister, Messhael who visited Damascus, and the visit of the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem to Algeria in support of the regime of Bachar el Assad, but other parties confirm that Algeria remained on the positive neutrality, based on its diplomatic doctrine, which refuses to interfere in the internal affairs of States, and call for the solution of crises through dialogue, and rejection of foreign interventions, and “did not repress” the opposition symbols who are present in Algeria, who had their freedom to express their positions on the Syrian regime and its symbols especially President Bachar el Assad.

Abdessalam Sakia / English version: Dalila Henache