HOW DO YOU READ THIS?

This is the text verbatim from the United Nations website of the communique agreed by the Action Group for Syria at Geneva last weekend.

II. Clear Steps in the Transition

The conflict in Syria will only end when all sides are assured that there is a peaceful way towards a common future for all in Syria. It is therefore essential that any settlement provides for clear and irreversible steps in the transition according to a fixed time frame. The key steps in any transition include:

• The establishment of a transitional governing body which can establish a neutral environment in which the transition can take place. That means that the transitional governing body would exercise full executive powers. It could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent.

• It is for the Syrian people to determine the future of the country. All groups and segments of society in Syria must be enabled to participate in a National Dialogue process. That process must not only be inclusive, it must also be meaningful—that is to say, its key outcomes must be implemented.

• On this basis, there can be a review of the constitutional order and the legal system. The result of constitutional drafting would be subject to popular approval.

• Once the new constitutional order is established, it is necessary to prepare for and conduct free and fair multi-party elections for the new institutions and offices that have been established.

• Women must be fully represented in all aspects of the transition.

[source : Action Group for Syria - Final Communiqué - 30 June 2012, UN, http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/%28httpNewsByYear_en%29/18F70DBC923963B1C1257A2D0060696B?OpenDocument, 30/06/2012]

I read this thus.
1. there is no explicit demand for Assad to go

but

2. a new "transitional governing body" will be established, i.e. this "transitional governing body" does not exist already and does not mean the current government of Syria
3. this new "transitional governing body" will replace the current government of Syria
4. the members of this new "transitional governing body" are to be agreed on by mutual consent.
5. the new "transitional governing body" will initially be an empty set, i.e. there is no assumption that anyone including Assad will be a member.

The opposition will never consent to Assad being a member of this new "transitional governing body".