bu Dhabi (AFP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that the participation of Syria’s opposition in mooted peace talks in Geneva would be a “big step.”

“We take note of the fact that yesterday the Syrian opposition voted to go to the Geneva II. This is a big step forward and a significant one,” said Kerry.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition said they are willing to join the talks, but on the condition that President Bashar al-Assad transfers power and is excluded in any transition process.