Moment of Truth: Syrian Peace Process Will Separate Terrorists, Patriots

The upcoming peace process in Syria will be a "watershed moment" for the opposition groups since it will ultimately help weed out terrorists among their ranks, Russian lawmaker Alexander Yushchenko told Radio Sputnik.

Although it has not been launched yet, Russia's list of opposition members who could be invited to the crisis settlement talks on Syria could well provide a solid basis for a sustainable peace process for the war-torn country, he noted.

"Moscow listed members of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNC), Syria's National Coordination Committee (NCC) and other organizations. Technical negotiations will follow. They will be aimed at determining who represents which group while weeding out terrorists," the lawmaker explained.

Yushchenko also emphasized what Moscow has repeatedly stated: there is no military solution to the raging Syrian war. The conflict could only be solved through a political dialogue.

Regrettably, the political dialogue is complicated by the fact that the Syrian opposition is particularly fragmented and plagued by infighting. Some groups often change allies and adversaries.

Nevertheless, Yushchenko is convinced that the ongoing peace efforts will help bring to the front those opposition groups who are genuinely intent on solving the crisis. "Any forces that want Syria to be free, independent and sovereign will be able to take part in the talks and the ensuing peace process," he asserted.

"Should the peace process, which Russia initiated, indeed be launched, it will serve as a watershed moment for the opposition forces. It will finally reveal who is backing terrorists, like ISIL, and who wants Syria to be free and sovereign," Yushchenko concluded.

On Tuesday, Russian officials confirmed that Russian forces in Syria were coordinating airstrikes targeting ISIL and other terrorist organizations with opposition groups in the country.

If Syrian opposition largely prefers to work with Moscow these days, then this is "embarrassing setback for the US intelligence services and neoconservative policymakers," Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten noted............ http://sptnkne.ws/aatB
4/11/15 
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