He said invitations for what he’s now calling “proximity” talks would be sent out on Tuesday.
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A rebel negotiating committee, comprising political and armed groups, has insisted that talks can not begin until airstrikes are halted, government sieges of opposition-held territory are lifted and detainees are freed. “This is what the HNC has laid down”, he said. The United States has led air strikes against the militants since 2014 and Russian Federation previous year launched a separate air campaign against enemies of its ally Assad. “If we attend, it’s as if we are selling our martyrs”, said Abu Ghiath al-Shami, spokesman for Alwiyat Seif al-Sham, one of the groups fighting against Assad’s forces in the southwest.
The date for commencement of the Syria talks is to be announced by the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
Last week, the Riyadh-based HNC said it would refuse to attend the talks if “external, foreign nations” impede negotiations and “insert third parties into the talks”. Turkey is opposed to the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) taking part on the opposition side, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu saying they should attend alongside the representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But the opposition has been increasingly critical of USA policy.
Diplomacy has repeatedly failed to resolve the conflict that has killed 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes, spawning a refugee crisis in neighboring states and Europe. But de Mistura told reporters that there would be no preconditions for any side. His two predecessors – Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi – both quit. It’s Mistura who made a decision to delay convening the talks until there’s more clarity on who should participate.
“The first priority will be the focus of the talks, of what most, if not all Syrians, want to hear: the possibility of a broad ceasefire and the possibility of stopping the threat of ISIL, and therefore thanks to a broad ceasefire, an increase of humanitarian aid”, the diplomat explained.
Another meeting of the International Syria Support Group, of countries supporting the Syria peace process, had been “tentatively” called for February 11.
Mohamed Alloush, the leader of the Jaysh al-Islam group, which has been chosen as part of the opposition list, said there were conditions yet to be applied before any talks could take place.
But he also said it wasn’t necessary for everyone to show up by Friday.
Even if Assad were to play ball, there are so many other players in the war that it may be impossible to get them all to agree on a single path to peace.
Turkey, a major sponsor of the insurgency, however said it was against the participation of the Kurdish YPG militia which is affiliated to the PYD.
Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which it sees as a terrorist organization.
They also set an agenda of issues for discussion including a cease-fire, a united front to combat terrorist groups, humanitarian issues and political reforms by mutual consent, it said.
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Russian firepower has helped the Syrian military and its allies achieve military gains, including a major push in the northwest of the country in recent days, with rebels acknowledging a turn in momentum.
