The spokesman for the supreme negotiating body Salem Al-Musallat at a press conference in Geneva yesterday where negotiations between the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition are scheduled to begin (AFP)
Whilst the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura is supposed to begin indirect negotiations between the regime’s delegation and that of the Syrian opposition in Geneva today, an exchange of accusations between the two sides has created tension.
The spokesman for the opposition’s delegation Salem Al-Musallat confirmed yesterday that the delegation remains committed to the need for progress with regards to the humanitarian situation and will not participate in negotiations until the matter is resolved. He also indicated that the opposition does not consider this matter as negotiable. However, the opposition has faced pressure from the US Secretary of State John Kerry who requested that both the delegations of the regime and the opposition fulfil their roles fully during the negotiation process. Many see this as a message primarily directed at the opposition. Sources also added that the UN envoy is relying on the intervention of international and regional parties to push the opposition to participate in the negotiations.
At a press conference for the opposition in Geneva yesterday, a member of the negotiating delegation Basma Qadamani said that the delegation came to Geneva after it received specific assurances and guarantees that serious progress would be made with regards to the humanitarian situation. She added that the opposition will not be able to begin political negotiations before these matters were resolved. According to Qadamani, the opposition received assurances from de Mistura, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
However, other parties of the delegation deny the existence of guarantees and spoke about political and diplomatic support. An official statement issued by the supreme negotiating body upon its arrival in Geneva made it clear that its delegation will inform de Mistura of its withdrawal if the UN and international powers fail to “stop the violations”. In addition to this, Riyad Nassan Agha said that “negotiations will not start until decisions are taken to end the siege and stop the bombing of civilians”.
The head of the regime’s delegation to the negotiations Bashar Al-Jaafari focused on the subject of terrorism and considers it to be a priority at the talks. Al-Jaafari also accused the opposition’s delegation of containing “terrorists”.