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| Syria Talks Open in Switzerland | Syria Talks Open in Switzerland |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MONTREUX, Switzerland — After months of diplomatic maneuvering and last-minute slips, delegates gathered on Wednesday in this lakeside Swiss city to press for a political settlement in Syria’s bloody civil war. | MONTREUX, Switzerland — After months of diplomatic maneuvering and last-minute slips, delegates gathered on Wednesday in this lakeside Swiss city to press for a political settlement in Syria’s bloody civil war. |
| But sharp divisions between the United States and Russia, and especially among the Syrian participants themselves, immediately came to the fore, casting doubt on the prospects for easing hostilities or even opening up humanitarian corridors for the delivery of food and medicine to besieged towns and cities. | But sharp divisions between the United States and Russia, and especially among the Syrian participants themselves, immediately came to the fore, casting doubt on the prospects for easing hostilities or even opening up humanitarian corridors for the delivery of food and medicine to besieged towns and cities. |
| Secretary of State John Kerry described the Syria crisis as a test for the international community and said it was unthinkable that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria could play a role in a transitional administration that would govern the country. The establishment of such a transitional body by “mutual consent” of the Assad government and the Syrian opposition is the major goal of the conference. | Secretary of State John Kerry described the Syria crisis as a test for the international community and said it was unthinkable that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria could play a role in a transitional administration that would govern the country. The establishment of such a transitional body by “mutual consent” of the Assad government and the Syrian opposition is the major goal of the conference. |
| “The right to lead a country does not come from torture,” Mr. Kerry said. “The only thing standing in the way is the stubborn clinging to power of one man.” | |
| But Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, challenged the American insistence that Mr. Assad be excluded from a possible transitional administration, arguing that the conference had to “refrain from any attempt to predetermine the outcome of the process.” | But Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, challenged the American insistence that Mr. Assad be excluded from a possible transitional administration, arguing that the conference had to “refrain from any attempt to predetermine the outcome of the process.” |
| Mr. Lavrov also argued that Iran, like Russia a staunch supporter of the Assad government, should be involved in conference proceedings. The United States has opposed allowing Iran to participate until it publicly endorses the mandate for the conference and successfully pressed the United Nations to withdraw its invitation to Tehran to attend. | Mr. Lavrov also argued that Iran, like Russia a staunch supporter of the Assad government, should be involved in conference proceedings. The United States has opposed allowing Iran to participate until it publicly endorses the mandate for the conference and successfully pressed the United Nations to withdraw its invitation to Tehran to attend. |
| The stark differences between the American and Russia positions were outlined in civil tones. But that diplomatic restraint was soon abandoned when the Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, took the floor. | |
| Before Mr. Moallem spoke, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, implored the Assad government and the Syrian opposition to avoid inflammatory language and to take a constructive approach. | |
| But Mr. Moallem launched into a diatribe in which he accused Arab nations of financing terrorism and conspiring to destroy his country. “They have used their petrodollars to buy weapons,” he said, “and to flood the international media with lies.” | But Mr. Moallem launched into a diatribe in which he accused Arab nations of financing terrorism and conspiring to destroy his country. “They have used their petrodollars to buy weapons,” he said, “and to flood the international media with lies.” |
| Mr. Moallem spoke for more than half an hour, far more than the seven minutes the opening speakers were allotted. As his address went on. Mr. Ban urged Mr. Moallem to wrap up his speech and to avoid his incendiary attacks. | Mr. Moallem spoke for more than half an hour, far more than the seven minutes the opening speakers were allotted. As his address went on. Mr. Ban urged Mr. Moallem to wrap up his speech and to avoid his incendiary attacks. |
| “You live in New York. I live in Syria,” Mr. Moallem said defiantly. | “You live in New York. I live in Syria,” Mr. Moallem said defiantly. |
| After Mr. Ban again urged Mr. Moallem to be concise, the Syrian foreign minister said he would conclude soon, saying, “Syria always keeps its promises.” But he continued with his denunciations. | After Mr. Ban again urged Mr. Moallem to be concise, the Syrian foreign minister said he would conclude soon, saying, “Syria always keeps its promises.” But he continued with his denunciations. |
| After Mr. Moallem finished, Mr. Ban said that his injunction that participants take a constructive approach “had been broken.” | After Mr. Moallem finished, Mr. Ban said that his injunction that participants take a constructive approach “had been broken.” |
| Ahmad Assi al-Jarba, the president of the Syrian opposition coalition, spoke next and denounced the Assad government and Iran, which has sent arms and members of the elite Quds force to support Mr. Assad’s troops. | |
| “We want to be sure we have a Syrian partners in this room.” Mr. Jarba said, alluding to the conference’s goal to establish a transitional administration. “Do we have such a partner?” | “We want to be sure we have a Syrian partners in this room.” Mr. Jarba said, alluding to the conference’s goal to establish a transitional administration. “Do we have such a partner?” |
| Mr. Jarba said that the opposition would never accept a role for Mr. Assad in a transitional administration. | Mr. Jarba said that the opposition would never accept a role for Mr. Assad in a transitional administration. |
| “We see only one option, negotiating a transition government born by mutual consent,” Mr. Kerry said as the gathering opened. | |
| “That means that Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that transition government,” he said, referring to the Syrian president, who is represented at the talks by senior officials. | “That means that Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that transition government,” he said, referring to the Syrian president, who is represented at the talks by senior officials. |
| There was no way, Mr. Kerry said, that a man who has “led the brutal response to his own people can regain legitimacy to govern.” | There was no way, Mr. Kerry said, that a man who has “led the brutal response to his own people can regain legitimacy to govern.” |
| After two days of talks here, the gathering is to move to Geneva for what the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, called “the real conference. If it fails, it will be a real crisis.” | After two days of talks here, the gathering is to move to Geneva for what the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, called “the real conference. If it fails, it will be a real crisis.” |
| Even before the talks began, Iran signaled profound pessimism, with President Hassan Rouhani telling an Iranian news agency that “we cannot have much hope” of a solution. Iran is Mr. Assad’s main regional backer. | Even before the talks began, Iran signaled profound pessimism, with President Hassan Rouhani telling an Iranian news agency that “we cannot have much hope” of a solution. Iran is Mr. Assad’s main regional backer. |
| “We also don’t have much hope that this conference will be efficient in establishing stability since some supporters of the terrorists are participating in it,” he told the Mehr news agency, referring to opponents of Mr. Assad. Mr. Rouhani said there was a “lack of influential players” at the conference and he doubted “its ability to resolve the Syria crisis,” the official IRNA news agency reported. | |
| On Sunday, Mr. Ban invited Iran to attend the talks, but withdrew the invitation less than 24 hours later after Tehran said it would not accept preconditions for its attendance. | On Sunday, Mr. Ban invited Iran to attend the talks, but withdrew the invitation less than 24 hours later after Tehran said it would not accept preconditions for its attendance. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague of Britain suggested on Wednesday that the onus was on Damascus to show readiness for peace. | Foreign Secretary William Hague of Britain suggested on Wednesday that the onus was on Damascus to show readiness for peace. |
| “Opposition has been tested and has come. Now regime must be tested on willingness to seek a political solution,” he said on Twitter after arriving in Montreux. | “Opposition has been tested and has come. Now regime must be tested on willingness to seek a political solution,” he said on Twitter after arriving in Montreux. |
| “Both sides should seize chance to end the war,” he said. | “Both sides should seize chance to end the war,” he said. |