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Press TV has conducted an interview with Naseer al-Omari, a writer and political commentator from New York, on the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) setting preconditions to attend the Geneva II talks.

- How conducive do you think this is for talks when one side sets preconditions?

- I think both the Syrian government and the Syrian armed opposition, as well as political opposition abroad, should meet without condition. The Syrian people have suffered enough; the news coming out of Syria describe the situation that is desperate, describe the return of infectious diseases that Syria has not seen in decades, hunger and people who cannot access food, people who are not allowed to access food.

The situation is desperate, the Syrian people deserve a chance and I believe that everything should be on the table and the Syrian opposition should approach the Syrian government with the intention of putting an end to the suffering of the Syrian people at any cost.

- Right now, also the so-called Syrian National Coalition, how much are they representative of the opposition? Is it considering there are factions that are fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad, who have said that they do not recognize the Syrian National Coalition and they denounce anyone who attends these talks?

- The Syrian opposition is fighting the armed opposition, it is ... , it is weak, it is divided, it is fighting a war to control swaths of land with in Syria.

We heard today of the events in the north where the Syrian army was able to restore the land that was occupied by the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Abroad opposition is even more divided and they are being manipulated and pushed in hundred directions by various countries in the region.

This situation is not conducive to peace in Syria; I believe that the International Community now has to step in and curb the war in Syria by putting the pressure on all parties to approach the negotiating table without condition.

- Indeed, and also I would like to discuss the role of Iran here; most countries do agree that Iran brings a very unique perspective and has a very important role to play in any negotiation as far as it goes, however [the president of the so-called Syrian National Coalition, Ahmed] Jarba does not seem to agree?

- I believe Iran and Turkey are now talking about the danger of the spread of the conflict on sectarian grounds in Syria and beyond. I believe there is recognition now both in Turkey, as well as Iran that the situation in Syria cannot go on, because it is turning into a regional conflict and this situation will not benefit Turkey, will not benefit Iran, will not lead to stability of Iraq which ... over the last few months.

All of these need double-headed politicians who can understand that the situation in Syria, despite the objections of both the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to sit and talk about this. This is basically leading to a catastrophe or open a season of war.