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Syria talks begin in rancor; foreign minister lashes out at Kerry, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon Syria talks begin in rancor; foreign minister lashes out at Kerry, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon
(35 minutes later)
MONTREUX, Switzerland — Syria’s government set a bitter tone Wednesday at the opening of talks meant to end the country’s long and bloody civil war, accusing Arab neighbors of sowing terrorism and insurrection while dismissing as interlopers the United States and other Western backers of Syrian rebels.MONTREUX, Switzerland — Syria’s government set a bitter tone Wednesday at the opening of talks meant to end the country’s long and bloody civil war, accusing Arab neighbors of sowing terrorism and insurrection while dismissing as interlopers the United States and other Western backers of Syrian rebels.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told foreign ministers who had gathered for the long-delayed peace talks that their nations could best help the situation by ending what he called the funding of terrorism and extremism in Syria, or by leaving the Damascus government alone.Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told foreign ministers who had gathered for the long-delayed peace talks that their nations could best help the situation by ending what he called the funding of terrorism and extremism in Syria, or by leaving the Damascus government alone.
“We have come here to put an end to terrorism and its bitter consequences,” Moualem said, referring to the rebels fighting to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “Diplomacy and terrorism cannot go in parallel. Diplomacy must succeed by fighting terrorism.”“We have come here to put an end to terrorism and its bitter consequences,” Moualem said, referring to the rebels fighting to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “Diplomacy and terrorism cannot go in parallel. Diplomacy must succeed by fighting terrorism.”
Diplomats from more than 30 nations have gathered here to begin what could be the first extended talks between the Assad government and opposition forces. Expectations are low for either a swift end to the military deadlock or an end to the Assad family’s decades of rule. Diplomats from more than 30 nations convened what could be the first extended talks between the Assad government and opposition forces. Expectations are low for either a swift end to the military deadlock or an end to the Assad family’s decades of rule.
The conference opened amid renewed allegations of widespread human rights abuses by Assad’s government. A report issued by three former war crimes prosecutors accuses the regime of the systematic torture and execution of about 11,000 prisoners since the uprising began. Several speakers Wednesday referred to the new allegations, which appear to back up rebel claims of torture and may help draw support for the opposition cause. The conference is an opportunity for the world to show that it is taking diplomatic action to try to stop nearly three years of bloodshed. Even the world powers sponsoring the event don’t agree on what it is supposed to achieve, however.
The one-day peace conference Wednesday is more style than substance, an opportunity for the world to show that it is taking action on Syria after nearly three years of bloodshed. The gathering opened amid renewed allegations of widespread human rights abuses by Assad’s government. A report issued by three former war crimes prosecutors accuses the regime of the systematic torture and execution of about 11,000 prisoners since the uprising began. Several speakers Wednesday referred to the new allegations, which appear to back up rebel claims of torture and may help draw support for the opposition cause.
Many of the nations attending are backing the rebels in the conflict, sending arms, money or other help. Russia, an ally and military supplier for Assad, is a co-sponsor of the event, but Iran — Syrian’s staunchest military patron — was excluded. Many of the nations represented here have backed the rebels in the conflict, sending arms, money or other help. Russia, an ally and military supplier for Assad, is a co-sponsor of the event, but Iran — Syrian’s staunchest military patron — was excluded.
The real work will begin in Geneva on Friday, when it is hoped that the Syrian government and opposition groups will hold face-to-face talks in the presence of mediators from the United Nations.The real work will begin in Geneva on Friday, when it is hoped that the Syrian government and opposition groups will hold face-to-face talks in the presence of mediators from the United Nations.
Syria’s government agreed to attend the talks but has rejected the premise that the goal is to establish a temporary government to replace Assad. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also denied that the automatic goal of the session was to replace Assad. Lavrov urged delegates not to “predetermine the outcome.” Syria’s government agreed to attend the talks but has rejected the premise that the goal is to establish a temporary government to replace Assad. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged delegates not to “predetermine the outcome.”
But Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who has called the Syrian president a killer unworthy of his office, reiterated the U.S. position that the only solution for ending the war is a new government.But Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who has called the Syrian president a killer unworthy of his office, reiterated the U.S. position that the only solution for ending the war is a new government.
“We need to deal with reality here,” Kerry said. “Bashar Assad will not be part of that transition government.”“We need to deal with reality here,” Kerry said. “Bashar Assad will not be part of that transition government.”
[President Obama’s thinking on Syria.][President Obama’s thinking on Syria.]
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal echoed Kerry in insisting that Assad has no role in a future Syrian government.Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal echoed Kerry in insisting that Assad has no role in a future Syrian government.
When it was his turn to speak, Moualem rebuked the chief U.S. diplomat directly.When it was his turn to speak, Moualem rebuked the chief U.S. diplomat directly.
“No one, Mr. Kerry, in the world has the right to give legitimacy or to withdraw legitimacy from a president, a government, a constitution or a law or anything in Syria, except Syrians,” he said.“No one, Mr. Kerry, in the world has the right to give legitimacy or to withdraw legitimacy from a president, a government, a constitution or a law or anything in Syria, except Syrians,” he said.
Moualem spoke in Arabic, through an interpreter, but switched to English to argue with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the conference host. Ban had interrupted Moualem to remind him that he had run well over his allotted eight minutes at the microphone.Moualem spoke in Arabic, through an interpreter, but switched to English to argue with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the conference host. Ban had interrupted Moualem to remind him that he had run well over his allotted eight minutes at the microphone.
“You live in New York. I live in Syria,” Moualem told Ban bitterly. “You can’t keep the Syrian version hidden from this forum.” “You live in New York. I live in Syria,” Moualem retorted. “You can’t keep the Syrian version hidden from this forum.”
The conference opened after days of diplomatic tension over whether to include Iran. The United Nations asked the Islamic republic to attend at the last minute, only to rescind the invitation under pressure from the United States. Wednesday’s session was a rare occasion when Syrian opposition and regime figures were together in the same room. Moualem looked on, with little expression, as opposition leader Ahmad Assi al-Jarba spoke.
The furor was a sobering reminder that even the world powers sponsoring the peace conference do not agree on what it is about or what it is supposed to achieve. “Time is like a sword, and for the Syrian people time is now blood,” Jarba said through a translator.
He reiterated that those fighting Assad will never accept a negotiated settlement that keeps him in power, and questioned whether participants at the conference are full “partners” in the goal of creating a transitional government, a reference to what opposition leaders frequently complain is fickle international support.
Jarba implored the delegates to move quickly to end the conflict.
The conference opened after days of diplomatic tension over whether to include Iran. Ban, who had argued that Iran must play a role in any meaningful effort to stop the war, issued a surprise invitation to Tehran on Sunday. He reversed course a day later, under heavy U.S. pressure.
Syria’s fractious and deeply divided opposition was united in opposing Iranian participation. Ban’s reversal helped swing diplomatic momentum behind the rebels, who have been unable to either present an organized political alternative to Assad or make a lasting dent in the regime’s superior military power.Syria’s fractious and deeply divided opposition was united in opposing Iranian participation. Ban’s reversal helped swing diplomatic momentum behind the rebels, who have been unable to either present an organized political alternative to Assad or make a lasting dent in the regime’s superior military power.
Assad, buoyed by months of small but steady military gains against the rebels, has made it clear that he regards the conference as an opportunity to affirm his hold on power in the name of fighting terrorism. The United States and other nations backing the rebels lobbied for months to bring them to the talks, arguing that the process would buttress their political credentials. The main opposition bloc held out until last week, however, worried that the talks would only solidify Assad’s hold on power.
Moualem told the delegates that al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting against Syrian troops have steadily gained ascendancy in the rebel-held north of the country. He disputed the characterization of the war as an uprising or internal “revolution,” saying those fighting against Assad troops come from more than 80 nations.
At one point Wednesday, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi strode into the press center and declared in a loud voice, “Assad is not leaving.”At one point Wednesday, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi strode into the press center and declared in a loud voice, “Assad is not leaving.”
Few expect concrete results from this round of diplomacy, widely referred to as “Geneva 2” because it is taking place under the terms of a 2012 Russian-U.S. blueprint for ending the crisis known as “Geneva 1.”
“Everyone knows that the most likely outcome of Geneva 2 is Geneva 3, Geneva 4 and so on,” said Salem Zahran, a journalist and analyst who is close to several figures in the Assad regime.
Moualem argued to the delegates that al-Qaeda-linked militants who are fighting with the rebels have steadily gained ascendancy in the rebel-held north of the country. He disputed the characterization of the war as an uprising or internal “revolution,” saying those fighting against Assad’s troops come from more than 80 nations.
A shadow delegation of Syrian military and security officials is bringing dossiers of information on wanted al-Qaeda terrorists to the conference in a further bid to lure the West into reorienting its support away from the opposition and toward the regime, one of those people said.
Diplomats and U.S. officials have cautioned that political breakthroughs are unlikely at the conference. Rather, they say, efforts will focus on an attempt to forge confidence-building measures such as local cease-fires and efforts to deliver humanitarian aid that might help build wider support for a peace process ahead of future talks.Diplomats and U.S. officials have cautioned that political breakthroughs are unlikely at the conference. Rather, they say, efforts will focus on an attempt to forge confidence-building measures such as local cease-fires and efforts to deliver humanitarian aid that might help build wider support for a peace process ahead of future talks.
Many ordinary Syrians expressed the hope that at least some sign will emerge of an end to the nightmare that Syria’s iteration of the Arab Spring has become.
“People just want it to end,” said a Damascus resident interviewed while on a recent visit to Beirut. “They don’t care how.”“People just want it to end,” said a Damascus resident interviewed while on a recent visit to Beirut. “They don’t care how.”
Suzan Haidamous and Susannah George in Beirut contributed to this report.Suzan Haidamous and Susannah George in Beirut contributed to this report.