TEHRAN Under the motto No to violence, yes to democracy, an estimated 200 Syrian and regional politicians gathered in Tehran on Sunday to discuss a possible end to the violence that has engulfed Syria since March 2011.
We believe reforms in Syria should lead to a free, fair and transparent election with the cooperation of all political parties, said Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in opening remarks at the one-day Syria National Dialogue conference.
Iran continues to back Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime despite the bloodshed, which has killed more than 40,000 people since the fighting began, making Western and many Arab governments doubt the Islamic Republics sincerity in trying to end the violence. But the presence of delegations from dozens of countries, including representatives of Russia and China, two key Syrian allies, show that Iran still holds some sway in this debate.
Despite the criticisms, leaders in Tehran have long contended that they support a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict and can play a positive role in engineering a lasting cease-fire there.
Salehi also warned that continuing to arm theoppositionin Syria, will spread insecurity, the risk of terrorism and increase organized violence and heighten the risk of bloodshed spilling into other countries.
Meanwhile thenewly formedNational Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, and its head,Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, continue to gain new supporters since forming at a meeting on Syria that took place in Doha, Qatar, last week.
France and Turkey have already recognized the group as a legitimate government in exile, and the United Kingdom is mulling increasing its support in the coming days.
The Tehran conference, considered by some as a response to the Doha gathering, comprised a range of representatives of Syrias ethnic and religious spectrum, but none identified themselves as specifically in opposition to the currentSyrian regime. Among them were Assad loyalists, Syrias National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil.
Ending clashes, preventing the shipment of weapons to Syria, avoiding interference by foreign countries, resuming national dialogue, forming a committee to meet the expectations of the Syrian people by parliamentary and presidential elections and changes in the constitutions are all aspects of Irans political plan in Syria, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.
With continued bombing in Gaza and southern Israel, many participants spoke about the urgent need for regional stability in what continues to be a volatile period.
Iraqs former prime minister, Ebrahim Jafari, called for a Syrian solution rather than resorting to foreign intervention, saying, We all must respect peoples dignity in Syria and prevent war and violence in Syria from spreading to the whole region.
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