PRESS CONFERENCE
Burhan Ghalioun
President of the Syrian National Council

The speech and Q & A will be in Arabic with English interpretation

Syrian opposition Leader Speaks about Crisis

Dr. Burhan Ghalioun, president of the opposition Syrian National Council, is in Tokyo for a four-day stay through Saturday at the invitation of the Japanese government.

Ghalioun, leader of the major Syrian opposition political group, is calling for help to topple the regime of Syria President Bashar Assad. Japan, which has imposed a series of economic sanctions on Assad's regime, recognizes the council as the legitimate representative of all Syrians. The council is trying to topple the regime and create a new all-inclusive representative body for the violence-stricken country.

The Syrian National Council says it has 310 members drawn from different Syrian opposition groups. It is serving as a political umbrella organization providing international representation for those supporting the Syrian revolution. The council claims the Syrian people yearn to be liberated from tyranny and wish to create a civil democratic state.

Burhan Ghalioun will talk to FCCJ members about the situation in Syria and his visit to Japan.

Burhan Ghalioun, President of the Syrian National Council