Syrian government agrees to look at some opposition proposals

Moscow, Jan 28 (IANS/TASS) The Syrian government delegation, which is in Moscow for peace consultations, said Wednesday it is ready to look at a number of the opposition's proposals but thinks some of them are subject for more detailed discussion that might be held in Damascus.

"Representatives of the government delegation said they are ready to consider a concrete list of political prisoners whose release is demanded by the opposition, if we provide it," Majd Niazi, the leader of the opposition party Syria the Homeland, told TASS news agency.

"They also said they agree to set up a human rights committee. But they said this and other proposals be discussed at further talks," she said.

"They suggest another meeting be held in Damascus."

Representatives of the Syrian opposition at consultations in Moscow have agreed in general to a list of 10 proposals to stop bloodshed in Syria and launch a peace process.

On Wednesday, this list was presented to a Syrian government delegation that has also arrived in the Russian capital city. Consultations between the Syrian authorities and the opposition will last till Thursday.

Earlier, leader of Syria's opposition Popular Front for Change and Liberation Qadri Jamil confirmed the list of 10 proposals.

"This list exists, it provides for, among other things, the cessation of bombing attacks and disarming of armed groups," he said, adding that these issues are most vital.

"Stopping bloodshed is now the priority. And more general issues should be left for the Geneva-3 talks," said the politician.

Commenting on previous reports alleging that the Syrian government delegation and opposition have failed to come to terms, Jamil said that the consultations' participants were not aiming to sign a settlement by all means.

"We certainly hope to reach consensus, we still have time," he said.

--IANS/TASS

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