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HNC in no position to set condition for Damascus: Analyst

Saturday, 12 March 2016 10:15 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 12 March 2016 10:13 AM ]

Spokesman of the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC) Riyad Naasan Agha attends a press conference on Syrian peace talks in Geneva on February 2, 2016. ©AFP

Press TV has conducted an interview with James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst from Washington, to discuss the upcoming peace talks between the Syrian government and the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee in Geneva.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: How promising would the upcoming peace talks with the opposition be?

Jatras: It’s very hard to tell. I mean despite its lofty title “High Negotiating Committee” this representative of opposition is really not a master of itself, I mean they depend on the Saudis and other outside powers, simply to survive. They’re in a very precarious position in this ceasefire situation.

Yet they make demands: “Assad must go. This must be a transition to a post-Assad order.” And they want full executive authority. Even though there’s simply no prospect they’re going to get it. So the question is this, will they negotiate in good faith, from the position of weakness with the Damascus government or will they pretend that they’re in charge of the situation when they’re not?

Press TV: But again what will happen if the talks fail and they collapse?

Jatras: If the talks fail, then the military advances being made by the Syrian army and the Russian air force will continue. And if these groups at some point, if they represent anything at all and have any instinct for self-preservation, will come and make the best deal they can possibly make or they will be destroyed along with Daesh and al-Nusra.

Press TV: What is the likelihood of Bashar Assad running in the elections, and would it be fair if he is forced not to run in the elections?

Jatras: No, I don’t think it would be fair at all. I think very substantial portion of the Syrian people, and I think perhaps a majority, want him to stay on as president. It’s not for outside powers to dictate that.

And frankly, I think it would have a destabilizing effect on Syria if we get this kind of charade that ‘well Assad will step down, but the state will continue.’ I think it would be destabilizing to the Syrian state to suggest that Assad must go.

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