LOC12:23
09:23 GMT
SARAJEVO, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- Croatia recognized the National Coalition for
Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNCROF) as the only legitimate
representative of the Syrian people, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in an
official statement released on Saturday.
"Croatia believes that the coalition will provide for the formation of the
foundation for the political transformation in Syria that will lead to the
development of Syria as of a democratic state, which respects fundamental
civil and human rights," the ministry said in a statement.
The SNCROF was formed November 11 in Doha, Qatar, and proclaims itself the
legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Last month, the leader of the newly formed Syrian opposition coalition,
Ahmed Mouaz Khatib, held talks with the European Union's foreign ministers.
The EU ministers recognised the SNCROF as "the legitimate representative"
of the Syrian people.
More than 100 nations, including the US and Western European countries,
declared their support for the opposition coalition, in December, at a
gathering in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Syrian opposition, backed by the West and some Arab countries, is
pushing for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster as the main condition for the
settlement of the almost two years old internal conflict that has already
claimed over 40,000 lives, according to human rights monitors. (end)
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KUNA 191223 Jan 13NNNN