Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam warned Syrians against participating in the Geneva 2 conference, which he described as an “international game.” He considered that those who participate in the conference contribute to “producing a very serious situation in the country.”
The United Nations has announced that the conference on Syria will be held next January. While the Syrian regime and some parties to the Syrian opposition have announced their willingness to participate in the conference, the Syrian National Coalition, the largest bloc of Syrian opposition forces, is still considering a decision in this regard under specific conditions. The most important condition is that the goal of the conference is the departure of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
In a “letter to Syrians about the Geneva conference,” a copy of which was obtained by Arabi21, Khaddam stated that the United States and Russia, the sponsors of the conference, have disregarded the heavy bloodshed in Syria as a result of the brutal aggression of the tyrannical regime led by the serial killer Bashar Al-Assad. He added that the two countries have ignored the goals of the Syrian people, which include liberation, overthrowing the regime, and holding the perpetrators of murder, extermination, and humiliation accountable.
Khaddam stated that “the participation of the National Coalition or any Syrian party in the name of the opposition will have serious consequences that will further complicate the situation in Syria.” He emphasized that the opposition parties intending to participate in the conference must understand that they won’t be able to achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people. The two countries sponsoring the conference have decided not to overthrow the regime but rather to include some opponents in the government.
The former Syrian Vice President expressed his hope that the participating opposition members in the Geneva conference would realize that their actions contribute to creating a highly dangerous situation in the country. He emphasized that the majority of Syrians, whether civilians, armed organizations, or the Free Army, would not allow this international game to pass and would not accept a second calamity after the catastrophe in Palestine.
Khaddam emphasized that Bashar Al-Assad, whom he referred to as a “tyrant,” will cling to power and, if forced to leave, will continue to exert influence through the armed forces, security services, and loyalists within the state. He warned that Al-Assad would manipulate the situation resulting from the Geneva conference.
Khaddam called upon the Syrian opposition to organize a comprehensive national conference, involving all opposition parties committed to overthrowing the regime. The goal should be to unite forces and efforts to save Syria, protect its people, overthrow the deadly authoritarian regime, and establish a government based on the will of the people. He highlighted that while the regime fights the Syrian people with unified military forces and supporters, the opposition striving to overthrow the regime remains fragmented and weakened by internal divisions.
Khaddam announced his defection from the Syrian regime at the end of 2005 and has been living in France since then.