As the bloody conflict in Syria continues to deepen, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed “in principle” to attend international talks in Geneva. But Assad said any deal reached at the meeting would need to be approved by the Syrian people.

President Bashar al-Assad: “Very simply, our only condition is that any agreement as a result of any meeting inside or outside Syria, including the conference, should be subject to the opinion of the Syrian people, a referendum for the Syrian people. This is our only real condition. Anything else has no value. This is why we will go to this conference feeling comfortable. We have no worries. They can put anything up for discussion on the table, but nothing will be implemented without the opinion of the Syrian people. And we are the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, so there is nothing we are afraid of.”

The opposition group Syrian National Council said Thursday it will not attend the peace talks next month. A spokesperson said: “The talk about the international conference and a political solution to the situation in Syria has no meaning in light of the massacres that are taking place.”