Momentum is building at the Geneva meetings against deposing Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warning other countries that Assad’s legitimacy could not be questioned. Wang stated, “Nobody in this world has a right to withdraw legitimacy from a president or government…other than the Syrians themselves.”

Wang said that the talks should not start with negotiations about Assad: “They should not at the beginning mire themselves in argumentation or debates on issues where their positions are quite far apart.”

Wang added that he did not believe the humanitarian crisis in Syria should be subject to demands about Assad. “I believe there are no difficulties or obstacles that are insurmountable in the process of implementing humanitarian assistance.”