Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, has met with seven members of the opposition Syrian National Council at a meeting in Geneva , discussing ideas to strengthen Syria’s transition towards democracy.
It is only the second time that Clinton has met with the Syrian opposition, having first met with representatives at the State Department in August, shortly before the US called on Assad to step down.
In the meeting Clinton told the opposition,
"A democratic transition includes more than removing the Assad regime. It means setting Syria on the path of the rule of law and protecting the universal rights of all citizens regardless of sect, or ethnicity or gender."
She also added the opposition understands
"that they need to be assured that Syria will be better off under a regime of tolerance and freedom that provides opportunity and respect and dignity on the basis of the consent rather than on the whims of a dictator.”
The meeting comes as the United States and France sent their ambassadors back to Damascus, after having recalled them earlier this year.
The US stated that they felt this was "among the most effective ways to send the message that the United States stands with the people of Syria," and French foreign ministry spokesperson also reiterating "France is more than ever at the side of the Syrian people.”
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