Propaganda alert: US and UN object to the holding of presidential elections in Syria

Question:  Okay. On the Syrian election just for a second. In your view, there’s no way that – there’s no way for an election to actually – for a real election to actually take place because of the current conditions in Syria, or because of the fact that there are millions of people outside who would – outside of Syria, or both?

U.S. State Department:  Well, I think one of the major reasons, which you didn’t mention but is worth noting, is that this – the Syrian regime and the Assad family has a history of not holding free and fair elections. Also, clearly what’s happening on the ground and the fact that this brutality has happened at the hands of the very brutal dictator who is planning to announce elections we don’t think would be free and fair is really the greatest concern.

Question:  Can you also just explain, how does it undermine the Geneva framework?

U.S. State Department:  Well, as the London Eleven [Core Group of the Friends of the Syrian People] announced in its April 3^rdstatement, any unilateral decision by the regime to hold presidential elections would be entirely inconsistent with the Geneva communique’s call for the establishment of a transitional governing body to oversee constitutional reforms leading to free and fair elections.

Question:  So – on the Geneva, so I can understand you correctly, it is the transitional aspect that is missing? You need something transitional – a transitional government – to oversee some sort of a fair and free election?

U.S. State Department:  Well, there are several aspects, Said.

Question:  Right.

U.S. State Department:  I think the first and foremost is the brutality of this very dictator who is planning to hold these elections, so – and the history of what’s happened over the last few years. But certainly, the Geneva communique calls for the creation of a transitional governing body.

Question:  So that’s the one I think that would legally – or stand in the face of a free and fair elections, correct? A transitional body of some sort.

U.S. State Department:  Well, there are also steps – laws that have been passed by the regime that preclude anyone who hasn’t lived in the country for 10 years from running for office that make it very difficult for other candidates to run in an election like this.

Question:  Okay. Do you still believe that Assad’s days are numbered?

U.S. State Department:  We do.

Question:  Okay.

U.S. State Department:  And we certainly – as you know, [U.S. Special Envoy for Syria] Daniel Rubinstein is back in the region.

Question:  Right.

U.S. State Department:  We continue to work with the opposition, we continue to work with our international partners, and we’ll continue to press for bringing an end to this regime.

Question:  Okay. So no amount of transparency could actually be – could be conceivable, correct, in this – in conducting this kind of election?

U.S. State Department:  I think --

Question:  Aside from the fact that maybe one-third of the population is dislocated?