This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/20/syria-summit-brink-iran-refusal

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria summit on brink over Iran refusal to endorse transitional government Syria summit on brink over Iran refusal to endorse transitional government
(about 1 hour later)
Diplomats are frantically trying to save Wednesday's Geneva summit on Syria from collapse with Iran refusing to concede that its last minute invitation to attend means it should endorse a transitional government in Syria – a move flatly rejected by Damascus. Diplomats are trying to save Wednesday's summit on Syria from collapse, with Iran refusing to concede that its last-minute invitation to attend meant it should endorse a transitional Syrian government – a move rejected by Damascus.
After spending Monday trying desperately to persuade Iran to agree to concede on the issue, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon released a statement saying he was "dismayed" by the failure of attempts. After spending Monday trying to persuade Iran on the issue, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, released a statement saying he was dismayed by the failure of attempts ahead of the Geneva talks. "Iran, despite assurances provided orally to the secretary general, has made a disappointing public statement," his spokesman told reporters in New York. "The secretary general is urgently considering his options in light of the disappointing reaction of some participants."
"Iran, despite assurances provided orally to the secretary general, has made a disappointing public statement," his spokesman told reporters in New York. "The secretary-general is currently urgently considering his options in light of the disappointing reaction of some participants." Ban belatedly invited Iran – a prominent backer of the Syrian regime – on Sunday without first asking the country's leaders to rubber stamp the principles of an earlier summit that had paved the way for the first direct talks with opposition and government groups since the start of the Syrian insurrection almost three years ago. Afterwards Iran's UN ambassador issued Tehran's most unambiguous statement so far on his country's participation in this week's peace talks saying that Iran would definitely not take part if it is required to accept the deal on a transitional government.
The move has enraged the US and Britain and main Syrian opposition body, which has warned it will not turn up in Geneva unless Iran concedes on the issue of a transitional government – a central pillar of western-backed diplomatic moves to oust Bashar al-Assad. "If the participation of Iran is conditioned to accept Geneva I communique, [which calls for a political transition in Syria] Iran will not participate in Geneva II conference," Iran's UN ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said in a statement.
Iran, however, insisted on Monday that it was invited without preconditions and said it was unwilling to agree to them now. Endorsing a transitional government would imply a watering down of Iran's resolute support to the Syrian regime, which has been its main strategic ally in the Arab world for more than 30 years. Ban belatedly invited Iran – a prominent backer of the Assad regime – on Sunday without first asking Tehran to agree to the principles of an earlier summit that had paved the way for the first direct talks between the Syrian opposition and government groups since the start of the conflict almost three years ago.
Without a substantive concession from either side, the summit, which was already facing irrelevancy, appears doomed. Months of faltering diplomacy will also have amounted to little, as the ever-more savage and internecine war in Syria intensifies. Already, close to 150,000 people have been killed, at least four million displaced and the unitary borders of Syria and its neighbours placed under immense strain. The move has enraged the US, Britain and the main Syrian opposition body, which has warned it will not turn up in Geneva unless Iran concedes on the issue of a transitional government – a central pillar of western-backed diplomatic moves to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have coveted playing a lead role in helping solve the Syrian crisis. Tehran has provided substantial funding and military support to Bashar al-Assad, while Riyadh has heavily backed groups fighting against his regime. Over the past year, the war has increasingly been a proxy campaign between the two regional heavyweights, with rising sectarian implications that spill well beyond Syria's borders. But Iran said on Monday it was invited without preconditions and was unwilling to agree to them now. Endorsing a transitional government would imply a watering down of Iran's support to the Assad regime, which has been its main ally in the Arab world for more than 30 years.
As Geneva approached, both sides hardened their positions. Iran had said it would welcome an invite, which it had attempted to frame though the prism of a recent rapprochment with the US and Europe over its nuclear program. Saudi Arabia had also wanted to play a prominent role in any detente, but only if Iran was not in the same room. Without a substantive concession from either side, the summit, which was already facing irrelevancy, appears doomed. Months of faltering diplomacy will have amounted to little, as the ever-more savage and internecine war intensifies. Close to 150,000 people have been killed, at least four million displaced and the borders of Syria and its neighbours placed under immense strain.
William Hague was on Monday night planning to speak to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who announced during the day that he had deputised an under-secretary to travel to Geneva. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have coveted a leading role in helping solve the Syrian crisis. Tehran has provided substantial funding and military support to Assad, while Riyadh has heavily backed rebel groups. Over the past year, the war has increasingly been a proxy campaign between the Iranians and the Saudis, with rising sectarian implications that spill well beyond Syria's borders.
"It remains very important for Iran to make clear that it would come to the Geneva II negotiations in order to implement the communique of Geneva 1," he said. As Geneva approached, both sides hardened their positions. Iran had said it would welcome an invitation, which it had attempted to frame though the prism of a recent rapprochement with the US and EU over its nuclear programme. Saudi Arabia had also wanted to play a prominent role in any detente, but only if Iran was absent.
The British foreign minister, William Hague, was night planning to speak to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who announced during the day that he had asked an under-secretary to deputise in Geneva.
"It remains very important for Iran to make clear that it would come to the Geneva II negotiations in order to implement the communique of Geneva I," he said.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported that the deputy foreign minister for the Arab and African affairs, Hossein Abdollahian, would attend.Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported that the deputy foreign minister for the Arab and African affairs, Hossein Abdollahian, would attend.
"We did not attend the Geneva I conference and we had no role in the Geneva I's statement," said Abdollahian of the earlier summit's conclusions. "We reject any demand to accept the Geneva I statement," "We did not attend the Geneva I conference and we had no role in its statement," he said of the earlier summit's conclusions. "We reject any demand to accept the Geneva I statement."
Ali Larijani, the speaker of the parliament, said pre-conditions should be put on "those supporting terrorism" in the Syrian conflict, and not Iran.Ali Larijani, the speaker of the parliament, said pre-conditions should be put on "those supporting terrorism" in the Syrian conflict, and not Iran.
US and British diplomats are understood to be seething at the latest blow to months of tortured attempts to convince all sides to attend the talks and to agree on a basis for discussions. "Ban Ki-moon got ahead of himself," one western official said. US and UK diplomats are understood to be seething at the latest blow to months of tortured attempts to convince all sides to attend the talks and agree on a basis for discussions. "Ban Ki-moon got ahead of himself," one western official said.
Before the latest setback, the main Syrian opposition body had only narrowly agreed to travel to Geneva, with many officials fearing they had more to lose by attending than staying away.Before the latest setback, the main Syrian opposition body had only narrowly agreed to travel to Geneva, with many officials fearing they had more to lose by attending than staying away.
As the summit drew near, Syrian forces, strongly backed by Hezbollah, Iran and a large Iraqi militia were on the front foot on the battlefield, edging forwards in key locations.As the summit drew near, Syrian forces, strongly backed by Hezbollah, Iran and a large Iraqi militia were on the front foot on the battlefield, edging forwards in key locations.
At the same time, however, the Syrian opposition in the north of the country had been ravaged by infighting, with a new configuration of groups violently turning on the main al-Qaida organisation, the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria (ISIS) in a revolt that had splintered the opposition's capacity in an arc from Idblib in the north-west to Deir Azzor in Syria's north-eastern desert region.At the same time, however, the Syrian opposition in the north of the country had been ravaged by infighting, with a new configuration of groups violently turning on the main al-Qaida organisation, the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria (ISIS) in a revolt that had splintered the opposition's capacity in an arc from Idblib in the north-west to Deir Azzor in Syria's north-eastern desert region.
Over-riding the infighting has been an enduring disconnect between the political opposition and the many fighting units. The Syrian Opposition Coalition has had little control over fighting forces in the field, with the exception of the Free Syria Army, whose role has decreased while other more Islamic groups – and al-Qaida linked jihadists – have gained prominence.Over-riding the infighting has been an enduring disconnect between the political opposition and the many fighting units. The Syrian Opposition Coalition has had little control over fighting forces in the field, with the exception of the Free Syria Army, whose role has decreased while other more Islamic groups – and al-Qaida linked jihadists – have gained prominence.