Western and Arab countries on Sunday sought to set conditions for a new Syria, pushing for tighter sanctions and diplomatic pressure to further isolate President Bashar Al-Assad, while urging the opposition to offer a democratic alternative to his regime. Participating in the “Friends of Syria” conference here the 70-odd countries stepped up pressure on Assad, mistrusting his acceptance of a plan to end a year of bloodshed. The conference also urged the United Nations to act to stop the violence, but steered clear of backing opposition appeals for arms to fight the regime clampdown. The international coalition recognized the Syrian National Council (SNC) as the “legitimate representative” of all Syrians. In the final statement of the conference, “the Syrian National Council has been recognized as the legitimate representative of all Syrians,” said Anatolia news agency. However, the SNC said weapons supplies to the opposition were not “our preferred option” because of the risk they could escalate the killing of civilians, but it appealed for technical equipment to help rebels coordinate. “For these supplies to be sent, neighboring countries need to allow for the transfer via their sea ports and across borders,” the council said in a statement. The conference also urged Syria mediator Kofi Annan “to determine a timeline for next steps, including a return to the UN Security Council, if the killing continues.” It added: “The regime will be judged by its deeds rather than its promises. The window of opportunity for the regime to implement its commitments to joint special envoy Annan is not open-ended.” Earlier, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, said: “The Syrian people, who are still suffering from the horrors of murder, extermination, and deportation until this moment while I am speaking to you, look forward that the Istanbul Conference will be a turning point in dealing with the crisis. “At this time, we can look forward seriously to acceptable solutions that achieve and organize the peaceful transfer of power.” Opening the conference, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told foreign ministers and other officials from some 70 countries that the “legitimate demands of the Syrian people must be met, right here, right now”. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged members of Assad's government to halt operations targeting civilians, or face “serious consequences”. She said the US was providing communications gear and other aid to Syria's civilian opposition, and denounced Assad for failing to follow through on his agreement to a peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan. “Nearly a week has gone by, and we have to conclude that the regime is adding to its long list of broken promises,” she said. The United States and its Gulf Arab allies, suspecting Assad of playing for time, Saturday urged Annan to set a timeline for “next steps” if no ceasefire materialized. The show of solidarity at the conference was marred by the absence of China, Russia and Iran — key supporters of Assad who disagree with Western and Arab allies over how to stop the bloodshed. “We will not let the Syrian regime misuse another opportunity, which is the last chance for the situation in Syria,” Ahmet Davutoglu,Turkish Foreign Minister, told a news conference after the meeting. Western powers have been wary of military intervention in Syria, but Davutoglu sounded an alarm bell, comparing the situation there to the plight of Bosnia in the 1990s. “In the case of Bosnia, the international community was too slow ... therefore we lost many people,” he said. “In the case of Syria, the international community should not be late as in the case of Bosnia. We have to act without delay.”
