Syrian government accuses Boris Johnson of being ‘completely out of touch with reality’ over peace plan

The British Foreign Secretary met with Syrian opposition leaders in London on Wednesday to discuss removing President Bashar al-Assad from power

Johnson met with the Friends of Syria in London on Wednesday (Getty)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has said that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s comments on building peace in Syria demonstrate he doesn’t understand the complicated situation in the country.

Mr Johnson met with the Friends of Syria in London on Wednesday to discuss an 18-month transitional peace plan which involves President Bashar al-Assad stepping down from office and free elections.

“Statements of British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson reveal his complete separation from reality,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in response on Thursday. “[He lacks] realisation that the time of the [British colonial] mandate will not come back.”

The statement, carried on state media, went on to say that Wednesday’s meetings with the opposition Syrian High Negotiations Committee demonstrated “aggression” towards Syria.

Ahead of the talks, Mr Johnson also called on Russia to end its “indefensible” support of the Assad regime, which he said was helping keep the government in power and adding to the bloodshed in the country.

Syria remains mired in a multi-sided conflict more than five years after an uprising began against Assad in 2011, drawing in both regional and global powers, causing a refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe, and inspiring jihadist attacks across the world.

At least 400,000 Syrians have been killed and 4million have fled the country, the UN says.

Mr Johnson was appointed Foreign Secretary when Theresa May took over as Prime Minister in July.

Earlier this year he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for liberating the historical site of Palmyra from Isis militants, and last month told his Russian counterpart, Sergy Lavrov, he wanted to normalise diplomatic relations.

Additional reporting by agencies