Foreign Office Minister meets SNC members

Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt met Syrian National Council (SNC) member Dr Burhan Ghalioun and other SNC members Basma Kadmani and Nibras el-Fadel in Paris earlier today. The meeting was part of the Foreign Office’s engagement with members of the Syrian opposition. According to the FCO press release, which ‘Arabstoday’ received a copy of, Minister Burt said following the meeting: “The establishment of the Syrian National Council marked a positive step in bringing together a broad range of Syrian opposition representatives. I was therefore pleased to meet SNC members Dr Burhan Ghalioun, Basma Kadmani and Nibras el-Fadel today. Dr Ghalioun set out the importance of establishing a shared vision for the future of Syria and a credible plan of how to move peacefully to an alternative political system. I welcome this, and his belief that any change should be Syrian-led and non-violent. It is crucial for all Syrian groups to be represented in any future opposition body in Syria. He added: “I call on the Syrian regime which continues to divide communities and brutally repress its citizens to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people who are yearning for reform and democratic change.“