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| Another delay — and lowered expectations — for Syria peace talks | Another delay — and lowered expectations — for Syria peace talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT — The United Nations on Monday set a new target date of Jan. 29 for the launch of a downgraded version of the Syrian peace talks that have already been delayed by squabbles over the guest list and the ultimate goal of the negotiations. | BEIRUT — The United Nations on Monday set a new target date of Jan. 29 for the launch of a downgraded version of the Syrian peace talks that have already been delayed by squabbles over the guest list and the ultimate goal of the negotiations. |
| The talks had been due to begin in Geneva on Monday and were intended to bring President Bashar al-Assad’s government and his opponents together to discuss ways to end the bloodshed in Syria and reforms that would lead to a new system of governance. | The talks had been due to begin in Geneva on Monday and were intended to bring President Bashar al-Assad’s government and his opponents together to discuss ways to end the bloodshed in Syria and reforms that would lead to a new system of governance. |
| Instead, the launch date has been postponed until Friday and the rival factions will not meet face to face, the U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters in Geneva. | Instead, the launch date has been postponed until Friday and the rival factions will not meet face to face, the U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters in Geneva. |
| Rather, he plans to host what he called “proximity” talks, in which the factions will sit in different rooms at the U.N.’s headquarters in Geneva, and he will shuttle between them. | Rather, he plans to host what he called “proximity” talks, in which the factions will sit in different rooms at the U.N.’s headquarters in Geneva, and he will shuttle between them. |
| The new format and the delayed start underscore the enormity of the challenge of bringing together the parties to the Syrian war, which is believed to have killed more than 250,000 people, displaced nearly 12 million, sent a surge of refugees flooding into Europe and given rise to the expansion of the Islamic State. | |
| [Is it too late to solved the mess in the Middle East?] | |
| De Mistura said there is still no consensus over who should be invited, and he will not issue the invitations until Tuesday, leaving a question mark over who will attend — and whether the talks will be able to begin at all on Friday. | De Mistura said there is still no consensus over who should be invited, and he will not issue the invitations until Tuesday, leaving a question mark over who will attend — and whether the talks will be able to begin at all on Friday. |
| But he also said it wasn’t necessary for everyone to show up by Friday. There will be no opening ceremony, he said, and the talks are expected to continue for six months — considerably longer than the three to five months diplomats had previously estimated, pointing to the steadily dwindling expectations for their success. | But he also said it wasn’t necessary for everyone to show up by Friday. There will be no opening ceremony, he said, and the talks are expected to continue for six months — considerably longer than the three to five months diplomats had previously estimated, pointing to the steadily dwindling expectations for their success. |
| “What matters is starting the talks with some kind of minimum understanding,” de Mistura said. | “What matters is starting the talks with some kind of minimum understanding,” de Mistura said. |
| The United States, Russia and regional powers had seemingly united behind the call for peace talks to be based on a formula drawn up in Geneva nearly four years ago and endorsed by a U.N. Security Council resolution in December. | The United States, Russia and regional powers had seemingly united behind the call for peace talks to be based on a formula drawn up in Geneva nearly four years ago and endorsed by a U.N. Security Council resolution in December. |
| But as the date approached, fierce disagreements erupted over the composition of the guest list and notably who should comprise the opposition delegation. Russia objected to the inclusion of the Islamist Jaish al-Islam rebel faction, which it labels a “terrorist” group. Moscow also insisted on the inclusion of other individuals and groups, such as the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party that is fighting a separate war in northeastern Syria. | But as the date approached, fierce disagreements erupted over the composition of the guest list and notably who should comprise the opposition delegation. Russia objected to the inclusion of the Islamist Jaish al-Islam rebel faction, which it labels a “terrorist” group. Moscow also insisted on the inclusion of other individuals and groups, such as the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party that is fighting a separate war in northeastern Syria. |
| Turkey said it would withdraw its support if the Kurds were included, while the opposition demanded that there should first be progress toward confidence building measures outlined in the U.N. resolution, such as a halt to attacks on civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged towns where people have been starving to death. | Turkey said it would withdraw its support if the Kurds were included, while the opposition demanded that there should first be progress toward confidence building measures outlined in the U.N. resolution, such as a halt to attacks on civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged towns where people have been starving to death. |
| [Death by siege in Syria’s civil war: Hundreds of thousands at risk] | [Death by siege in Syria’s civil war: Hundreds of thousands at risk] |
| The fighting in Syria has only intensified as the talks have drawn closer, with gains by government forces against the rebels in several parts of the country calling into question whether Assad will feel under any pressure to make concessions at the negotiating table. | The fighting in Syria has only intensified as the talks have drawn closer, with gains by government forces against the rebels in several parts of the country calling into question whether Assad will feel under any pressure to make concessions at the negotiating table. |
| A further snag developed Sunday after reports from unnamed members of the opposition suggested that Secretary of State John F. Kerry had warned the Syrian opposition delegation during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that the United States was reneging on its commitment to press for an outcome that would lead to Assad’s departure. | A further snag developed Sunday after reports from unnamed members of the opposition suggested that Secretary of State John F. Kerry had warned the Syrian opposition delegation during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that the United States was reneging on its commitment to press for an outcome that would lead to Assad’s departure. |
| Kerry on Monday told reporters that he did not make those comments. “It’s just not what was said,” he told reporters during a visit to the Laotian capital, Vientiane. | Kerry on Monday told reporters that he did not make those comments. “It’s just not what was said,” he told reporters during a visit to the Laotian capital, Vientiane. |
| “The position of the United States is and hasn’t changed, that we are still supporting the opposition politically, financially and militarily,” he said. | “The position of the United States is and hasn’t changed, that we are still supporting the opposition politically, financially and militarily,” he said. |
| Kerry added that he also told the opposition that “it’s up to the Syrians to decide what happens to Assad. That’s in the U.N. resolution. And they are the negotiators, so they will decide the future.” | Kerry added that he also told the opposition that “it’s up to the Syrians to decide what happens to Assad. That’s in the U.N. resolution. And they are the negotiators, so they will decide the future.” |
| The last time peace talks were held in Geneva two years ago they collapsed within weeks after it became clear the government was not willing to offer any concessions to opposition demands for an end to Assad’s rule. | The last time peace talks were held in Geneva two years ago they collapsed within weeks after it became clear the government was not willing to offer any concessions to opposition demands for an end to Assad’s rule. |
| This time around, de Mistura said, he wants to be sure not to launch peace talks prematurely. | This time around, de Mistura said, he wants to be sure not to launch peace talks prematurely. |
| “I’ve been very much aware of the danger of what happened in Geneva 2,” he said, referring to the earlier talks. “That’s why we are being careful and extremely thorough in wanting to make sure that when and if we start, we start on the right foot. | “I’ve been very much aware of the danger of what happened in Geneva 2,” he said, referring to the earlier talks. “That’s why we are being careful and extremely thorough in wanting to make sure that when and if we start, we start on the right foot. |
| “It will be uphill anyway,” he added. | “It will be uphill anyway,” he added. |
| Carol Morello in Vientiane, Laos, and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. | Carol Morello in Vientiane, Laos, and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |