Syria Peace Talks to Resume 10 February

The first round of the Geneva II conference on Syria ended on Friday with little progress, but the two sides agreed to resume talks on 10 February.

The Assad regime expected to turn the peace talks into an international forum to paint all the opposition, including the delegation participating in the conference, as terrorists and avoid discussions of the implementation of Geneva I communiqué to set up a transitional government to end the conflict.

The opposition wanted to discuss the requirements of Geneva communiqué and talk about transitional government and counter the regime’s claim that there were no real opposition in Syria and the military was fighting only the terrorists.

It seems that the regime delegation did not achieve its goals and at the end agreed to resume talks in ten days to discuss prisoners release, humanitarian access and most importantly the formation of the transitional government. The opposition also had to sit down around the table with the regime and discuss the ways to end the conflict.

The second round of talks starting on 10 February becomes all that important. The two sides should not only realize by now but also publicly declare that the solution to the civil war does not come out of the barrel of the gun, but through a political solution that would safeguard the interests of all Syrians, regardless of sectarian and tribal and regional differences. A government of national unity, acceptable to all factions, is what is needed in Syria.

Women and Children To Be Allowed Out of Homs

First Concrete Outcome of Geneva II

The Geneva II talks between the Syrian government and the opposition achieved its first concrete outcome today: The Government will allow women and children to leave the besieged city of Homs. Lakhtar Brahimi, the UN Syria envoy and chief moderator at Geneva II talks, made the announcement today. (BBC News, 26 January)

Brahimi also announced that he hoped a humanitarian convoy from the UN and the Red Cross would be able to go to Homs on Monday. Hundreds of people are reportedly trapped in besieged parts of the city, including some who are very ill.

Photo credit: The old city of Homs has been under siege by government forces. (Reuters)

‘A Good Beginning,’ Brahimi on First Day of Syria Peace Talks

UN Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said representatives from Syrian government and the opposition met in the same room at UN’s Palais des Nations for about three hours on Saturday.

“They have talked to each other this afternoon,” Brahimi told journalists at a Geneva press conference at the conclusion of the first day of joint talks. Describing the set up in the room, he said, “One delegation was at a table on the left, the other on the right, facing each other. They talk through me, to one another. ” (The Back Channel/Al-Monitor, 25 January)

“This is what happens in civilized discussions, ” Brahimi added. “I think it is a good beginning.”
The two sides discussed a possible agreement to send an aid convoy to the besieged city of Homs for possible approval on Sunday, Brahimi said. The two sides will also discuss prisoner releases on Sunday.

“The most important element discussed today was on humanitarian corridors for Homs, which has been besieged for the past 19 months without food,” Louay Safi, a spokesman for the Syrian Opposition Coalition negotiating team told journalists at a press conference Saturday evening.

“Now we are going through the preparatory phase of securing the release of detainee,” Safi said. (The Back Channel/Al-Monitor, 25 January)

The parties on Monday will begin discussing the formation of a transitional governing body, Safi added.

Photo credit: UN Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi reporting on the first day of talks between Syrian government and the opposition. Geneva, 25 January 2014. (The Back Channel/Al-Monitor)

Syria Peace Talks Get Underway in Syria - Signs of Progress

A face-to-face meeting between the Syrian government and the opposition has started in Geneva. This is the first time in three years of civil war that the two sides negotiate face to face. UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is presiding over the meeting.

UPDATE: The first meeting between leaders of the Syrian government and the opposition was tense but lasted three hours. An opposition spokesman told reporters after the meeting that the two sides will begin discussing formation of a transitional government on Monday. (NBC News, 25 January)

File photo: UN Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi (AP

What Does ISIS Want?

Tomorrow the representatives of the Syrian regime and political opposition are due to meet at Geneva II conference in Switzerland. The aim of the UN-brokered meeting is to agree on measures including a ceasefire, prisoner release and transitional government.

The situation on the ground in Syria, however, threatens to derails talks. The opposition is factional and includes terrorist group ISIS, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. The Economist had posted a brief description of the group online. To read the article, please click here.

File photo: ISIS fighters in Syria (AP/The Economist)

UN Statement on Revoking Invitation to Iran for Geneva II

The United Nations today revoked its invitation to Iran to attend the Geneva II conference on Syria. The following are statements by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations on today’s developments:

“In that spirit, in a series of meetings and telephone conversations, senior Iranian officials assured the Secretary-General that Iran understood and supported the basis and goal of the Conference, including the Geneva Communiqué.  The Secretary-General is deeply disappointed by Iranian public statements today that are not at all consistent with that stated commitment.  He continues to urge Iran to join the global consensus behind the Geneva Communiqué.  Given that it has chosen to remain outside that basic understanding, he has decided that the one-day Montreux gathering will proceed without Iran’s participation.

The Secretary-General looks forward to joining the initiating parties -- the Russian Federation and the United States -- as well as the other States and organizations that will attend this long-awaited and hugely important push for peace.  The Syrian parties, the region and the international community have an opportunity and a responsibility to end the violence and begin a transition towards a new Syria.”

The UN News Center also reported that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had invited Iran to attend Geneva II after Foreign minister Javad Zarif “assured” him that Iran understands that the basis of talks is “full implementation of an action plan adopted in the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 (Geneva I).” (UN News Center, 20 January)

  

Earlier, the Iranian ambassador to the UN had issued a statement announcing that Iran would not attend Geneva II if required to accept Geneva I communiqué. Soon after the statement, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon withdrew his invitation to Iran.

File Photo: Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (center) at UN Headquarters. (thetower.org) 

UN Withdraws Invitation to Iran for Geneva II

The UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has withdrawn his invitation to Iran to join this week’s Syria peace talks, the so-called Geneva II. The secretary general voiced his deep disappointment by Iran’s statement earlier today concerning Geneva II conference. (AP, 20 January)

The invitation was withdrawn shortly after Iran’s ambassador to the UN announced that Iran would not attend Geneva II if required to accept the Geneva I agreement of 2012.

A UN spokesman said senior Iranian officials have assured the Secretary General that Iran understood the terms of his invitation.

Meanwhile, the Syrian National Coalition announced that it will take part in Geneva II after the UN withdrew its invitation to Iran.

Photo credit: The UN Security Council, Monday 20 January 2014. (Craig Ruttle/AP)

Iran Will Not Attend Geneva II if Required to Accept Geneva I – UN Ambassador

Iran’s permanent mission to the UN today released a statement by Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee on the country’s position concerning its participation in Geneva II conference:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran appreciates the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his special envoy, Mr. Brahimi in finding a political solution for Syrian crisis. Iran has always been supportive of finding a political solution for this crisis. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any preconditions for its participation in Geneva II conference. If the participation of Iran is conditioned to accept Geneva I communiqué, Iran will not participate in Geneva II conference,” said Ambassador Khazaee.

File photo: Iranian Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaee (Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations)