Saudi Foreign Minister: Al-Assad Will Leave, No Doubt

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an exclusive televised interview today with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria that does not include President Bashar Al-Assad.

"A man who's responsible for the murder of 300,000 plus people, the displacement of 12 million people, the destruction of a country, is a man with absolutely no future in this country," said Minister Al-Jubeir. 

"Bashar Al-Assad will leave, have no doubt about it. He will either leave by a political process or he will be removed by force. The Syrian people will not accept him being in power."

The foreign minister reaffirmed the Kingdom's willingness to send troops to Syria with a U.S.-led coalition.

"If the international coalition against Daesh, which we are a part of and have been since the very beginning, decides that it will introduce ground troops to Syria – in addition to the current air campaign – we have said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to contribute special forces to this effort."

On relations with Iran, Minister Al-Jubeir stated, "We have always said that we would like to have good relations with Iran…but neighbors have to live with each other based on the principal of good neighborliness and the principal of the non-interference in the affairs of others." He continued, "We have no ill will towards Iran. We have committed no aggression towards Iran. We have been on the receiving end of it."

FACT SHEET: Saudi Arabia and the Crisis in Syria

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office