Moscow’s intervention has not swung the war decisively Assad’s way and several Western-backed rebel groups, some of whom were represented in Riyadh, have been emboldened by the increased flow of foreign-supplied anti-tank missiles which have helped stem parts of the army’s counter-offensive.
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Concluding a two-day meeting in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, representatives of the political and armed opposition agreed that the goal of the talks should be the departure of President Bashar al-Assad and the creation of a democratic and pluralistic state to replace his family’s four-decade-old regime.
Besides Russia’s slamming of the talks between political and armed opposition factions, the groups did end up calling for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has Russia’s support.
Moscow launched air strikes in Syria 10 weeks ago, helping the Syrian army – backed by Iranian troops, Hezbollah fighters and allied militia – to contain rebel advances.
Diplomatic efforts for a Syria solution have also been boosted by the rapid rise of the Islamic State group that has declared a “caliphate” straddling Syrian and Iraq.
The opposition groups called on the United Nations and worldwide community to force the regime to take “goodwill measures” before negotiations can begin, including an end to indiscriminate bombing and sieges on rebel-held areas, the entry of humanitarian aid, the release of political detainees and a halt to executions. According to the Telegraph, “the group was established by Islamists and originally included internationally known jihadists with long-standing ties to al-Qaeda”. The statement said that body would select the negotiating team.
Al-Nusra Front ally Ahrar al-Sham attended the beginning of the Saudi talks on Wednesday but later announced it had withdrawn. Their complaint apparently had to do with the presence of a rival political organization at the meeting.
At one point on Friday, Putin appeared to hold out an olive branch to the West, making what appeared to be Russia’s first explicit statement of support for rebels opposed to Assad in the fight against Islamic State. The Kurds also have an uneasy relationship with Turkey, which is one reason they were not invited to the meeting. Within six months, the negotiations are to establish a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” transitional government that would set a schedule for drafting a new constitution and holding a free and fair U.N.-supervised election within 18 months.
For his part, Assad does not seem willing to leave Damascus, either quickly or slowly. The next global talks on Syria are scheduled for the beginning of 2016.
A powerful Syrian insurgent faction pulled out of an opposition conference Thursday ahead of proposed peace negotiations in protest over the role given to groups it said are close to the Syrian government.
“Whenever they want to change their approach, give up the armaments, we are ready”, Assad said.
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Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on Friday that he was in contact with senior Saudi officials and noted, “there are some questions and obviously a couple of – in our judgment – kinks to be worked out” though expressing confidence that the problems could be resolved.
