Burhan Ghalioun and panel of SNC representatives - Photo courtesy of Fadil Aliriza

Today, Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalam confirmed to reporters that the Syrian National Council, a Syrian political opposition group enjoying wide international recognition, will not be invited to attend the international Friends of Syria conference, scheduled to be held February 24^th in Tunisia.

“There will certainly not be an official SNC representative [present at the conference],” stated Abdessalam during a press conference held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Each thing in its time,” he added, expressing hope to see the formation of a Syrian opposition group with “real representation.”

The Syrian National Council, headed by exiled council chairman Burhan Ghalioun, was permitted to hold its inaugural congress in Tunisia last December. The three-day event concluded with the provision of assurances from Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki that the opposition group would be officially recognized by the Tunisian government. However, formal recognition has not yet been extended.

The Friends of Syria is an international initiative launched by France and the United States as a means of circumventing the political impasse in the UN Security Council, caused by China and Russia’s recent veto of the draft resolution condemning the escalating violence in Syria. Abdessalam proposed Tunisia’s candidacy to host the event during the Arab League Summit held in Cairo last Saturday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that diplomatic missions have been invited to attend conference from the US, EU, GCC, Arab League, Russia, China, and elsewhere.