Turkmen leader among opposition delegation in Geneva

Turkmens are being represented in Geneva as a member of the High Negotiation Committee (HNC) and they are an inseparable part of the Syrian opposition, the head of Syrian Turkmen Assembly Abdurrahman Mustafa said Tuesday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency regarding the Geneva talks, which were organized to find a solution for the war-torn country, Mustafa said their main purpose as Turkmens is to stop the humanitarian crimes being committed in Syria.

Indicating that Russia is solely responsible for more than half of the civilian deaths in the country, he also stressed that the people facing starvation under the Hezbollah-backed regime siege in Madaya must be discussed from the outset of negotiations.

The HNC, which represents the main body of the Syrian opposition, has demanded a halt to attacks on civilian areas, the release of detainees and a lifting of blockades if it is to attend the indirect talks with the regime delegation.

"There are two parts in Geneva, which is the regime and the opposition. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has called these parts together to negotiate. It is out of the question that separate invitations are sent for Kurds, Turkmens, Christians and Arabs. They are all represented in the opposition."

Mustafa also said that they are represented with two ministers in the provisional government and they attended the Riyadh conference under the Syrian National Coalition, adding that the U.N. has recognized the Turkmen assembly by inviting it to the negotiations that de Mistura conducted with Syrian parties last May.