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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | ||
| UN fails to break Syria talks deadlock | ||
| 2014-01-30 | ||
The UN failed to break a deadlock at Syrian peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with negotiations interrupted after President Bashar Al AssadÂ’s regime pushed for a statement condemning the United States.
A member of the opposition negotiating team, Rima Fleihan, said that UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi had adjourned the meeting “because the regime is not cooperating on any subject, not on humanitarian issues and not on a transitional governing body.” She said the opposition had presented a preliminary transition plan laying out its “vision” for Syria, but the regime refused to engage in talks. “We have a vision, unfortunately the regime presented nothing and refused all discussion,” Fleihan said, adding that the next session was planned for Wednesday morning.
“This decision can only be understood as a direct attempt to obstruct any political solution in Syria through dialogue,” it said. It follows a report from the Reuters news agency that the US Congress secretly approved funding for weapons deliveries to “moderate” Syrian rebel factions. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad said that showed Washington “is not interested in the success” of the peace process. He accused the opposition of obstructing talks by refusing to adopt the regime statement. “The other party said they don’t agree... and that they support the United States’ steps to arm terrorist groups,” he said. Delegates from the regime and the opposition National Coalition have been brought together in the biggest diplomatic push yet to end a civil war that has left more than 130,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. The talks hit an impasse on Monday when discussions started on political issues, including the transfer of power to a transitional government. Brahimi had said Tuesday’s talks would focus on the Geneva communique, the text agreed by world powers in 2012 that calls for the creation of a transitional governing body in Syria. He said he also hoped for concrete steps on humanitarian aid, especially for besieged and starving families in rebel-held areas in the central city of Homs. Brahimi admitted on Monday that the talks so far “haven’t produced much”, but said just getting the two sides to sit in the same room was a step forward. Expectations are low for a breakthrough, especially after the two sides failed to agree on even the basic principles of political talks on Monday. Despite their frustration, each side vowed it would not be the first to walk away from the talks, which are expected to last until Friday. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |