Saudi Arabia: Assad must leave

Saudi Arabia: Assad must leave




Deputy Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Zoumpeir said the president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad must leave at the beginning of the transitional policy period and not its end.

"For us it is clear that withdrawal, must be done at the beginning of the process and not the end, after 18 months," said Saudi Foreign Minister during his visit to Paris.

The statements of these, made just days before the new UN initiative to reopen peace negotiations in order to end the five year armed conflict in Syria.

Both the US and other Western governments that previously made it a key requirement for the withdrawal of Assad to cultivate political stability in Syria, have silently withdraw from this condition.

This development occurs after the consolidation of its position on the battlefields in Syria as a result of Russian air support to forces since last September.

At the same time, reports the Athens Press Agency, the Zoumpeir clarified that his country would receive reinforcement of French origin, originally destined for Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia had moved in February to suspend distribution package aid economic 3 billion dollars to the Lebanese Army, in response to the failure of Beirut to condemn the attacks that had received the Saudi diplomatic representation in Iran.

"We decided not to deliver military assistance is in Lebanon, but the mood in the armed forces of our country," said Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia reporters today during his visit in Paris, filling:

"So, contracts with France will be implemented, but the ultimate beneficiaries will be the armed forces of Saudi Arabia," said Zoumpeir.