"To begin with, they (the HNC) do not represent the Syrian people," Bashar al-Ja’afari said on Wednesday, adding, "Quite on the contrary, by leaving, they may be taking away a major obstacle that will allow us to reach a solution."
Ja’afari, who also serves as Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, made the remarks at a news conference in the Swiss city of Geneva after meeting with Ramzy Ezzedine Ramzy, the UN’s deputy special envoy to Syria.
His comments came one day after some leaders of the Saudi-backed HNC left the latest round of the peace talks, which began in Geneva on April 13, to protest at what they called escalating violence and restrictions on humanitarian access in Syria.
HNC coordinator Riyad Hijab addresses a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, April 19, 2016
HNC coordinator, Riyad Hijab, said he was leaving Geneva along with some of his colleagues from the opposition group, adding that the process will continue gradually until Friday.
Ja’afari noted that his meeting with UN official shows the Syrian government's "serious and positive" engagement in the Geneva talks.
A political solution to the crisis in Syria consists of the formation of a national unity government, an amended constitution and parliamentary elections, he added.
Any group that thinks otherwise is "living an illusion" and is "wasting their time and ours," the Syrian diplomat went on to say.
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