Syrian government ready to negotiate on ‘everything’, Assad says

(Reuters) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government is ready to negotiate on “everything” in proposed peace talks in Kazakhstan but said it was not yet clear who would represent the opposition and no date had been set.

Assad also said a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, his most powerful ally, ahead of the talks was being violated and the army’s role was to recapture an area near Damascus where insurgents control the main water supply for the capital.

Air strikes resumed on Sunday in a rebel-held valley near Damascus containing the Syrian capital’s main water supply, a day after insurgents and the government failed to agree a plan to repair the springs knocked out of service two weeks ago.

He made the remarks in comments to French media that were published by the Syrian state news agency SANA.

Asked if the government was ready to discuss Assad’s position as president, he said “yes but my position is linked to the constitution”. “If they want to discuss this point they must discuss the constitution,” he said.

He indicated that any constitutional matter must be put to a referendum, and it was up to the Syrian people to elect the president.