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| Syrian refugees on Geneva II: 'I have learnt that politics has no principles' | Syrian refugees on Geneva II: 'I have learnt that politics has no principles' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Muhammed Alhaj Omer, 34, father of two. From Homs, now living in Karkemish, Turkey | Muhammed Alhaj Omer, 34, father of two. From Homs, now living in Karkemish, Turkey |
| As Syrian refugees, we wear out long hours arguing about the Syrian situation and ruminating about any possible way out. Most of us believe that the Geneva conference or any other such conference cannot solve our conundrum. We can't dream of any framework that can resolve the dilemma of the Syrian people. The situation is getting more fixed with time. Lots of fighting organisations and militias are immersed in Syria now. | As Syrian refugees, we wear out long hours arguing about the Syrian situation and ruminating about any possible way out. Most of us believe that the Geneva conference or any other such conference cannot solve our conundrum. We can't dream of any framework that can resolve the dilemma of the Syrian people. The situation is getting more fixed with time. Lots of fighting organisations and militias are immersed in Syria now. |
| I do not want Bashar al-Assad to continue as president of Syria, he has to resign. We have become refugees because of Bashar. The other choice could be anything – but not Bashar; he is absolutely unwanted. Thanks to Bashar, now, we have the situation of car bombs which is worse than explosive barrels thrown by planes. We are scared of any car we cross on the road in case it might go off by any moment. We are between a rock and a hard place – Bashar and Islamic organisations. | I do not want Bashar al-Assad to continue as president of Syria, he has to resign. We have become refugees because of Bashar. The other choice could be anything – but not Bashar; he is absolutely unwanted. Thanks to Bashar, now, we have the situation of car bombs which is worse than explosive barrels thrown by planes. We are scared of any car we cross on the road in case it might go off by any moment. We are between a rock and a hard place – Bashar and Islamic organisations. |
| I don't have high expectations for the Geneva conference. If I did, I would not have left Aleppo. We accepted the fact that any single Syrian man has to sort out his problem by himself by finding any other safe spot or even a shadow of a tent. If you think of the situation practically, there is no solution. It would be great if the conference can at least convince the regime to stop the shelling of the cities so that people can go back home. We are not running away from death but the children are so terrified by the sounds of shelling and gunfire. | I don't have high expectations for the Geneva conference. If I did, I would not have left Aleppo. We accepted the fact that any single Syrian man has to sort out his problem by himself by finding any other safe spot or even a shadow of a tent. If you think of the situation practically, there is no solution. It would be great if the conference can at least convince the regime to stop the shelling of the cities so that people can go back home. We are not running away from death but the children are so terrified by the sounds of shelling and gunfire. |
| Sama Alhomsi, 25, law graduate. From Homs, now living in Lebanon | |
| I hope the Geneva conference would come out with a political solution; believe me the rebels and Shabiha who are fighting inside Syria work in the same place when they go abroad because they believe they need to earn their living. | I hope the Geneva conference would come out with a political solution; believe me the rebels and Shabiha who are fighting inside Syria work in the same place when they go abroad because they believe they need to earn their living. |
| For sure we do not want Bashar to stay as a president. The opposition must have a role in the new government but we want guarantees that all the minorities in Syria can have their rights and live together again. We do not want any president to stay forever. | For sure we do not want Bashar to stay as a president. The opposition must have a role in the new government but we want guarantees that all the minorities in Syria can have their rights and live together again. We do not want any president to stay forever. |
| We want a democratic and civil state in which I myself can nominate myself for the presidency office. This is what we are dreaming of and the style of state we are looking for. | We want a democratic and civil state in which I myself can nominate myself for the presidency office. This is what we are dreaming of and the style of state we are looking for. |
| I do not have any confidence in any conference or states. The Syrian coalition combines many political figures who opposed the regime for long but they can represent me only when they find me a solution, when they ease the blockade against Homs. There are Syrian children who are selling roses in Beirut's streets to earn their living, though they should be in school now. | I do not have any confidence in any conference or states. The Syrian coalition combines many political figures who opposed the regime for long but they can represent me only when they find me a solution, when they ease the blockade against Homs. There are Syrian children who are selling roses in Beirut's streets to earn their living, though they should be in school now. |
| Before we go to the conference, there should be guarantees for the opposition and the Syrian people, for instance, releasing the detainees, ceasing fire and lifting embargoes on cities as a good gesture so that we can reach a deal – at least to show a seriousness in finding a solution. Otherwise we are going to the conference just because some states want us to attend the conference. | Before we go to the conference, there should be guarantees for the opposition and the Syrian people, for instance, releasing the detainees, ceasing fire and lifting embargoes on cities as a good gesture so that we can reach a deal – at least to show a seriousness in finding a solution. Otherwise we are going to the conference just because some states want us to attend the conference. |
| Taha AlDerri, teacher with three children. From Deraa, now living in Jordan | Taha AlDerri, teacher with three children. From Deraa, now living in Jordan |
| I dream that the Geneva conference could come out with a resolution that could help us to go back to Syria, but what I'm going through every day tells me that our torment will last. | I dream that the Geneva conference could come out with a resolution that could help us to go back to Syria, but what I'm going through every day tells me that our torment will last. |
| I do not expect any good to come out of the Geneva conference. I have learnt that politics has no principles. If these convening states wanted to put an end to our suffering, they would have done that a long time ago. We know the result of the conference – Geneva II will breed Geneva III, and so on. | I do not expect any good to come out of the Geneva conference. I have learnt that politics has no principles. If these convening states wanted to put an end to our suffering, they would have done that a long time ago. We know the result of the conference – Geneva II will breed Geneva III, and so on. |
| Only the names of meetings and conferences might change; the Syrian calamity will stay the same, people dying and displaced with no good intention to solve the problem. | Only the names of meetings and conferences might change; the Syrian calamity will stay the same, people dying and displaced with no good intention to solve the problem. |
| Seventeen countries claimed that they granted Syrian refugees asylum, but in reality all the Syrians who went abroad reached these countries by their own personal endeavours. Only because of the Russian pressure have we reached this level of suffering. | Seventeen countries claimed that they granted Syrian refugees asylum, but in reality all the Syrians who went abroad reached these countries by their own personal endeavours. Only because of the Russian pressure have we reached this level of suffering. |
| I would accept anything that comes from the Geneva conference but not Bashar to stay as a president. We will be like a man who is holding ice in one hand and fire in another. There is a sea of blood, agony and suffering between us and Bashar. We can't accept him any more just for the sake of diplomacy. | I would accept anything that comes from the Geneva conference but not Bashar to stay as a president. We will be like a man who is holding ice in one hand and fire in another. There is a sea of blood, agony and suffering between us and Bashar. We can't accept him any more just for the sake of diplomacy. |
| Raisa Muhammed, 57. From Hassaka, now living in Iraq | Raisa Muhammed, 57. From Hassaka, now living in Iraq |
| I do not know what happened to my house in Hassaka. All I want from the Geneva conference is to go back home. I do not mind if Bashar stays in power, I want a president that can provide me with security. I'm not pro or anti Syrian revolution; all I want is to live in peace. | I do not know what happened to my house in Hassaka. All I want from the Geneva conference is to go back home. I do not mind if Bashar stays in power, I want a president that can provide me with security. I'm not pro or anti Syrian revolution; all I want is to live in peace. |
| Muhmmed Hayel, 33, primary school teacher. From Deraa, now living in Jordan | Muhmmed Hayel, 33, primary school teacher. From Deraa, now living in Jordan |
| All I wish of the Geneva conference is to stop the war by any means, but not to keep Bashar. Our problem won't be solved as long as Bashar is still in power. | All I wish of the Geneva conference is to stop the war by any means, but not to keep Bashar. Our problem won't be solved as long as Bashar is still in power. |
| I believe that the US and Russia are meeting in Geneva for their interests, not for us. They have a role for Bashar, and once it is over they will let him go. | I believe that the US and Russia are meeting in Geneva for their interests, not for us. They have a role for Bashar, and once it is over they will let him go. |
| I'm convinced that if the US want to expel Bashar, they would do so regardless of the Russians' opposition, but they want him. | I'm convinced that if the US want to expel Bashar, they would do so regardless of the Russians' opposition, but they want him. |
| I expect the Geneva conference to be a kickoff for a solution of the Syrian cause. The problem is that they [the Syrian coalition] do not have any cards to play. | I expect the Geneva conference to be a kickoff for a solution of the Syrian cause. The problem is that they [the Syrian coalition] do not have any cards to play. |
| The coalition relies entirely on Syrian people's friends who proved to have a shaky will to help us. The conference wants to put a peaceful end for Bashar by letting him leave after the elections. | The coalition relies entirely on Syrian people's friends who proved to have a shaky will to help us. The conference wants to put a peaceful end for Bashar by letting him leave after the elections. |
| There are more than 5 million refugees who will say "no" to Bashar in the elections – he will win by fraud only. Conferences will continue until election day. We are worried that the civil war will keep going in Syria for years, like it did in Lebanon. | There are more than 5 million refugees who will say "no" to Bashar in the elections – he will win by fraud only. Conferences will continue until election day. We are worried that the civil war will keep going in Syria for years, like it did in Lebanon. |
| Saddam Ahmed, 32, father of four. From Hassaka, now living in Mosul, Iraq | Saddam Ahmed, 32, father of four. From Hassaka, now living in Mosul, Iraq |
| I hope that the Geneva conference would come with something good to be able to head back early in the morning to my home town. I'm praying to God that these convening states would agree on a settlement for our calamity. We need to see an end for our misery. We have lost everything. We lost home, relatives and security. I do not mind whatever they decide and even if Bashar stays as a president, I just want security and live like a normal human being. | I hope that the Geneva conference would come with something good to be able to head back early in the morning to my home town. I'm praying to God that these convening states would agree on a settlement for our calamity. We need to see an end for our misery. We have lost everything. We lost home, relatives and security. I do not mind whatever they decide and even if Bashar stays as a president, I just want security and live like a normal human being. |
| My life in Mosul is a dark chapter that hardly can be forgotten and continue with, without the help of some Iraqis, we would be dead long time ago. My daughters are not allowed to go to school in Mosul. The school administration wants me to get an approval from their schools in Syria, but how can I go back to Syria to get the approval? I'm so frustrated that they are spending all their time at home learning nothing. There is not any UN agencies for the refugees where we are living either to help us. My mother is very ill, I can't keep moving her from one place to another. | My life in Mosul is a dark chapter that hardly can be forgotten and continue with, without the help of some Iraqis, we would be dead long time ago. My daughters are not allowed to go to school in Mosul. The school administration wants me to get an approval from their schools in Syria, but how can I go back to Syria to get the approval? I'm so frustrated that they are spending all their time at home learning nothing. There is not any UN agencies for the refugees where we are living either to help us. My mother is very ill, I can't keep moving her from one place to another. |
| Raya, from Damascus, now living in Turkey | Raya, from Damascus, now living in Turkey |
| I hope that Geneva II will achieve a solid deal between the dictator government of Syria and the opposition board, first and foremost a ceasefire, an enforced no-fly zone and safe passage for relief agencies to the areas in need. [In my opinion], the best scenario for the future would be to agree on giving Bashar and his thugs a safe exit from Syria while the transitional government, the coalition, takes control for a year until political parties are created and free elections take place. That way a new government can be formed democratically with the help of professional associations. | I hope that Geneva II will achieve a solid deal between the dictator government of Syria and the opposition board, first and foremost a ceasefire, an enforced no-fly zone and safe passage for relief agencies to the areas in need. [In my opinion], the best scenario for the future would be to agree on giving Bashar and his thugs a safe exit from Syria while the transitional government, the coalition, takes control for a year until political parties are created and free elections take place. That way a new government can be formed democratically with the help of professional associations. |
| Maher, from Lattakia | Maher, from Lattakia |
| I am of Turkmen origin, married with three kids. My hopes and expectations from this or any other conference are very low. Maybe the case of dividing Syria into [different] states that are to be ruled federally could bring the quickest solution as well as a ceasefire and some kind of peace. At the end I have to say that I see nothing will go as we, the Syrian people, want. The interests of the superpowers, Iran, Russia and America, set the agenda for what will happen [in Geneva]. They will try and secure their own benefits and their own business in Syria. | I am of Turkmen origin, married with three kids. My hopes and expectations from this or any other conference are very low. Maybe the case of dividing Syria into [different] states that are to be ruled federally could bring the quickest solution as well as a ceasefire and some kind of peace. At the end I have to say that I see nothing will go as we, the Syrian people, want. The interests of the superpowers, Iran, Russia and America, set the agenda for what will happen [in Geneva]. They will try and secure their own benefits and their own business in Syria. |
| Zekeriya, from Aleppo | Zekeriya, from Aleppo |
| I want Assad to stay. He is a dictator, of course I agree with that, but what choices do we have? I am Muslim, but I want a secular government and secular law. I don't want sharia in Syria, and I want everyone to be able to choose how they live – their sexuality, their dress, their religion. | I want Assad to stay. He is a dictator, of course I agree with that, but what choices do we have? I am Muslim, but I want a secular government and secular law. I don't want sharia in Syria, and I want everyone to be able to choose how they live – their sexuality, their dress, their religion. |
| As for Geneva II – I don't have much faith in that conference. Maybe the UN will decide to fight with Assad against al-Qaida? I don't know. Personally, I don't feel represented by any of the groups who will be there. The EU, Russia, Iran or the US do not really care about the Syrian people. The war in Syria is a game for them, and each of them wants to defend their own interests. | As for Geneva II – I don't have much faith in that conference. Maybe the UN will decide to fight with Assad against al-Qaida? I don't know. Personally, I don't feel represented by any of the groups who will be there. The EU, Russia, Iran or the US do not really care about the Syrian people. The war in Syria is a game for them, and each of them wants to defend their own interests. |