Riyadh-backed Opposition Left Geneva Talks Due to Syrian Army’s Victories


Al-Jaafari : The Syrian army will continue fighting terrorism regardless of the Geneva outcome

5 February، 2016
Geneva, SANA

Bashar al-JaafariHead of the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva Bashar al-Jaafari said the track of political dialogue is one thing and combating terrorism is another thing.
Al-Jaafari told the BBC TV channel in an interview aired on Thursday that he told the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura that the Syrian Arab Army, with the help of the friends and allies, is going ahead with fighting terrorism.
“This is our right according to the UN resolutions and the international law,” he said.
“We are not trying to cover one thing with another, as the war against terrorism is going on whether we come to Geneva or not,” al-Jaafari added.
He made it clear that the Syrian government is not using the Geneva platform as a means to cover for the army’s advance. “This advance doesn’t wait for the Geneva round,” added al-Jaafari.
He stressed that the Syrian Arab army has been fighting terrorism for five years and will continue to do so regardless of the Geneva track.
Earlier Wednesday, de Mistura announced suspending the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva until the 25th of February.
Commenting on de Mistura’s announcement , al-Jaafari said this matter is premature and the capitals concerned will assess what happened.
This date is not sacred, he said, adding “we will decide whether we will come back on the 25th or before or after that date through the diplomatic channels.”
He held the Riyadh opposition and the UN envoy responsible for what happened in Geneva.
“The special envoy, with his undue diplomacy, allowed the Riyadh delegation to manipulate his good intentions,” said al-Jaafari, calling for not repeating the mistakes that occurred during Geneva 2 conference in terms of the bad preparation and the imposing of one delegation out of a broad spectrum of opposition groups as a party to the dialogue.
H. Said

Churkin: “Syrian Opposition” delegation came to Geneva to complain, not to hold dialogue

5 February، 2016
New York, SANA

Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin listens to U.S. President Barack Obama (not pictured) speak at the Security Council of the 69th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York, September 24, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR47KQ8

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said that the “Syrian Opposition” delegation came to Geneva to complain, not to hold dialogue, stressing that there mustn’t be preconditions for resuming the Geneva talks on Syria.

In a press conference following closed discussions at the Security Council regarding the report by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Churkin noted that de Mistura did not hold the Russian airstrikes responsible for suspending the talks in Geneva, in response to accusations to this effect made by Western and regional sides.

Russia’s Representative said the discussions with de Mistura were good, with the Envoy presenting his ideas in a diplomatic manner without directing any accusations or criticism towards Russia.

He also said that the airstrikes carried out by the Washington-led alliance in Syria are illegal, as the alliance didn’t receive approval from the Syrian government.

Churkin hoped that intra-Syrian dialogue in Geneva would be resumed before February 25th, which is the date set by de Mistura, adding that the “opposition” wasn’t represented in a sufficient manner that complies with the Vienna statements and resolution no.2254, and that Turkey undermined dialogue by refusing the participation of representatives of Kurds.
He stressed the need for more work to reach a better representation of the opposition, and the need to prevent repeating the negative Geneva 2 experience when they wanted to impose the “coalition” as the representative of all the opposition, noting that the Syrian Arab Republic delegation was ready for dialogue.

Churkin said that Russia will propose new ideas during the meeting of the international support group for Syria on February 11th in Munich, and that it will continue making efforts for events to run in the proper course in Syria, hoping that all partners would shoulder their responsibility.

Hazem Sabbagh



UN doesn’t intend to send new invitations for Geneva talks

5 February، 2016
Geneva, SANA

Ramzy

Deputy of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, said the UN doesn’t intend to alter the invitations for the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva which it hopes will begin on February 25th.

Ramzy told Reuters after a meeting with figures from the “Syrian opposition” that were invited to the Geneva talks as individuals, not as a group, that there will be no other invitations, nor will new invitations be issued in a different form.

Later, AFP quoted de Msitura as telling Italy’s la Repubblica newspaper that they are ready to resume intra-Syrian talk before February 25th, and that the goal of that is to reach a solution; not merely negotiate for negotiations’ sake.

De Mistura also said that during the upcoming meeting for the international support group for Syria in Munich, the UN will verify the participants’ desire to reach a political solution for the crisis in Syria, and at what pace they wish to pursue this course.

Hazem Sabbagh