Riad Hijab, Syrian opposition coordinator for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) attends a news conference after the Geneva peace talks were paused in Geneva, Switzerland, February 3, 2016.

The Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) will not return to peace talks in Geneva until there is a change on the ground, its chief coordinator said on Wednesday.

“Mr De Mistura paused the process, I believe this is a chance for the international community to put pressure on the regime and its allies to make sure they implemented the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people through releasing detainees and lifting sieges on towns and stopping aerial attacks on towns,” Riad Hijab told reporters.

“The HNC delegation will leave Geneva tomorrow and will not return here unless we see something on the ground.”

Hijab also said there would be no ceasefire until a transition without President Bashar al-Assad was in place.

Related articles across the web

• Syrian opposition groups pick ex-PM Riad Hijab to represent them in talks
• Ex-PM to represent Syria opposition
• Syrian negotiator says opposition wants transition without Assad
• UN chief calls for taking steps to confront terrorism
• Regime-Change Turnaround: Kerry Says Assad Can Stay...For Now
• Syrian opposition: No ceasefire unless Assad goes
• A Flip-Flop in Syria? Kerry Backtracks on Assad Regime
• Russia reported open to Assad's ouster
• In Apparent Reversal, Obama Admin Not Seeking 'Regime Change' in Syria