WASHINGTON
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad will not part of negotiations to end the conflict in the country but his regime will have a voice in the future of Syria, White House said Tuesday.
Assad has lost legitimacy to represent Syria's government in any possible political solution to ending the conflict, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
"It should be resolved around the negotiating table, in which elements of the Assad regime, but not President Assad himself would participate," said Earnest.
Assad spoke to U.S. media outlet CBS on Sunday and said he was "optimistic" about starting a dialogue with Washington after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this month that the White House would "have to negotiate in the end" with the Syrian president.
"We always wanted to have good relation with the United States," Assad said. "We never thought in the other direction. It's a great power. Nobody – no -- not a wise person think of having bad relation with United States."
The Syrian president argued that the Syrian people still support him and it was the reason why the war lingers on. "If they don't support you, they could have -- go and support the other side," said Assad.
Earnest countered by saying the way in which Assad has used his armed forces is not appropriate and is rejected by world leaders.
“His willingness to use his nation's own military to target his citizens is something that the international community cannot abide, and it is why he has lost legitimacy to lead that country," Earnest said.
Syria has been gripped by constant fighting since the regime launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March 2011, triggering a conflict that has spiraled into civil war and left more than 210,000 killed, according to the UN.
