The so-called International Syria Support Group set a January 1 deadline for the start of talks between the Assad government and moderate opposition groups as part of a broader plan for a political transition in Syria.
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“The outcome is somewhat positive… but it is fragile and the process can collapse at any time”, he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Paris, said the Riyadh talks had made progress “but we have some tough issues to get over”. “The first step we should take in order to solve this problem is to stop the flood of terrorists, especially through Turkey to Syria and to Iraq, and of course we have to stop the flowing of money – Saudi money and other Wahhabi money and Qatari money – to those terrorists through Turkey”, Assad said.
The faction argued the organisers of the conference had refused to emphasise the Muslim identity of the Syrian people.
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has declared he will not negotiate with armed groups, appearing to scupper peace talks Russian Federation and the United States hope to bring about next month. Syria’s civil war has stretched on for five years now.
The opposition was willing to enter talks with Syrian government representatives and to accept a UN-supervised ceasefire, the statement said. The committee will then select a negotiating team.
The measures include the ending of regime sieges on towns and districts to allow the entry of humanitarian aid, a halt to executions, the release of political detainees and the creation of conditions to allow for the return of refugees.
Behind them are nine members of the exiled political opposition, six from Syria’s internal, mainly Damascus-based opposition and eight independents.
Russia, a key Assad ally, also denounced the Saudi talks.
Moscow’s intervention has not swung the war decisively Assad’s way and several Western-backed rebel groups, some of whom were represented in Riyadh, have been emboldened by the increased flow of foreign-supplied anti-tank missiles which have helped stem parts of the army’s counter-offensive.
Kurdish fighters were also left out.
Away from the political decisions, the unrest and violence continues in Syria.
“Only the people of Syria can decide the future of their country”, he added.
Riyadh has been among those calling most strongly for Assad s departure and on Thursday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir insisted again that he must leave.
Assad told Spanish news agency EFE that Saudi Arabia, the US and some Western countries “want terrorist groups to join the negotiations table”.
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Asked if he had thought about stepping down as president and leaving the country, he said: “I never thought about leaving Syria under any circumstances, in any situation, something I never put in my mind”.
