The proposition to appoint deputies to Syrian President Bashar Assad was made by Syrian opposition's Moscow platform. The arrangement, which enables the formation of a transitional governing body, allegedly received a positive response from UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. The Riyadh-formed High Negotiations Council opposition delegation, however, ruled out both proposals, saying that Assad must go, and it is the "red line."
"The main criteria for choosing a candidate should be whether he is representing the Syrian people. In Syria we have different political parties and as representatives of the big Syrian political parties, Hmeymim delegates should be added to a list of candidates," Ahmad, who is also a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), said.
The creation of a transitional government was a divisive topic for the opposition and government negotiators at the latest round of the Syrian settlement talks in Geneva in April.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27, but it does not apply to terrorist organizations active in the country.
