"There will certainly not be an official SNC representative" at the conference, Foreign Minister Rafik Abdesalem told news hounds while recognizing that the topic had caused wide debate.
"Each thing in time," the minister said, adding that he hoped to see the creation of an opposition group with "real representation".
Tunisia, which hosted a first international conference on Syria in December and broke off ties with Damascus
...Capital of the last remaining Baathist regime in the world...
earlier this month, does not recognize the SNC as an official entity.
The SNC said last week recognition by the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
was imminent, though members did not specify the extent of recognition they expected.
Tunisia has invited members of the vaporous Arab League and the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
, along with the United States, to attend the February 24 conference.
Abdesalem confirmed invitations were also sent to Russia and China, the two powers have that have gone furthest to defend the regime of
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
"There's no reason to exclude two countries," the minister said.
The minister said the conference would "apply maximum pressure on the Syrian government so that it stops killing its own people."
Abdesalem said military options were not on the table and that Tunisia would never be a staging ground for an attack on Syria.
"We are acting within the Arab League framework," he said.
Abdesalem also defended Tunisia's decision earlier this month to expel a top Syrian diplomat, calling it "ethical".
Tunisia's opposition had criticized the decision as a reckless break with the country's diplomatic tradition.
Abdesalem said Tunisia could not "stand back in silence" noting that the expulsion was decided the day after regime attacks in Homs killed 230 people, according to Syrian activists.
"The situation in Syria is critical and no one can accept such violations against human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
," the minister said.
"What is happening there is just revolution not so different from what happened in Tunisia, a revolution for dignity and freedom," the minister said.
Syrian forces on Friday continued to blast Homs despite an overnight U.N. vote condemning the repression.