Syrian local opposition vows positive participation in Geneva conference

Syria's main local opposition group on Monday said it is determined to "positively" partake in the planned international conference on Syria that will be held in Geneva in mid June. Speaking at a press conference here in Damascus, Hassan Abdul- Azim, head of the National Coordination Body (NCB), said "We will exert utmost efforts for the convention of the conference and to render it a success." He urged the opposition groups to unify their ranks to draw up a unified stance during the conference in order to bring an end to the Syrian crisis. "We will partake in the conference with a positive spirit coherent with the goals of the popular revolution in establishing a new democratic system on the wreckage of the current regime, but with preserving the unity of Syria's territories and people," he added. For his part, Rajaa al-Naser, a leading member of the oppositional NCB, said that "the Coordination Body will exert all efforts to push all opposition factions to participate in the conference in a joint delegation to present a unified vision on the course of the negotiation process for Syria's future." Earlier this month, the United States and Russia agreed to reactivate the Geneva Declaration agreed upon last year in a fresh push to seek a solution to Syria's protracted crisis, and hold an international conference with the presence of representatives of both the Syrian administration and the opposition. The conference is expected to discuss the recent U.S.-Russian efforts to revive political options for resolving the Syrian crisis, with the focus on coordinating efforts in light of the latest developments in Syria. Last week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed the new agreement between Moscow and Washington in finding a political solution to resolve the Syrian conflict, but he cast doubt over the Western countries' real intentions.