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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
(about 4 hours 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 — Peace talks to end Syria’s nearly three years of civil war got off to a shaky start Wednesday, with finger-pointing by the Syrian government and its political opponents, and disagreement about what the goal of negotiations should be.
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. Syria’s government set a bitter tone for the first negotiations of the country’s long and bloody civil war, and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cast doubt on follow-up face-to-face talks set to begin Friday.
“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.” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem accused Arab neighbors of sowing terrorism and insurrection, and he dismissed as interlopers the United States and other Western backers of Syrian rebels. He told foreign ministers endorsing the long-delayed peace talks that their nations could best help by ending what he called the funding of terrorism and extremism in Syria, or by leaving the Damascus government alone.
Opposition leader Ahmad Assi al-Jarba said those fighting Assad will never accept a negotiated settlement that keeps him in power, and implored the delegates from more than 30 nations to move quickly to end the conflict. “We have come here to put an end to terrorism and its bitter consequences,” Moualem said, referring to the rebels fighting to unseat Assad. “Diplomacy and terrorism cannot go in parallel. Diplomacy must succeed by fighting terrorism.”
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. Russia, a co-sponsor of the conference, insists that Assad’s ouster is not automatic. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged delegates not to “predetermine the outcome.”
Opposition leader Ahmad Assi al-Jarba said those fighting Assad will never accept a negotiated settlement that keeps him in power, and he suggested that further talks are pointless if the Assad government rejects the premise of a transition government.
Jarba implored the delegates from more than 30 nations to move quickly to end the conflict.
“Time is like a sword,” Jarba said through an interpreter. “And for the Syrian people, time is now blood.”“Time is like a sword,” Jarba said through an interpreter. “And for the Syrian people, time is now blood.”
The conference — the first extended talks between Syria’s government and opposition forces — 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. Expectations are low for either a resolution of the military deadlock or an end to the Assad family’s decades of rule. Other opposition figures and the Syrian regime said the talks are on track. Jarba’s coalition had resisted attending for months, fearing that the talks would only solidify Assad’s military gains and further divide the mostly expatriate political opponents and the frontline rebels.
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. United Nations and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi told reporters that the exact format of the talks on Friday has not been determined. He said he may need more time to discuss the terms before bringing the two sides into the same room.
[President Obama’s thinking on Syria.] Those direct negotiations planned for the nearby Swiss city of Geneva would be the first extended talks between Syria’s government and opposition forces. The talks would take place only in the presence of mediators from the United Nations.
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.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 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. Wednesday’s round of speeches by more than 30 foreign ministers offered an opportunity for the world to show support for a diplomatic effort. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, like many other speakers, said the only solution to a war that has killed more than 130,000 people is a political settlement between Assad and his committed opponents.
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.” Even the world powers sponsoring the event do not agree on what it is supposed to achieve, however. Expectations are low for either a resolution of the military deadlock or an end to the Assad family’s decades of rule. The United States has ruled out sending forces to Syria and has put any other outside military intervention on indefinite hold.
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. President Obama said recently that he is “haunted by what’s happened” in Syria but does not think he miscalculated. “It is very difficult to imagine a scenario in which our involvement in Syria would have led to a better outcome,” Obama said in a New Yorker profile that came out Friday.
Kerry, who has called the Syrian president a killer unworthy of his office, reiterated the U.S. position that the only solution for Syrians 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.”
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 retorted. “I have the right to give the Syrian version here in this forum. After three years of suffering, this is my right.”“You live in New York. I live in Syria,” Moualem retorted. “I have the right to give the Syrian version here in this forum. After three years of suffering, this is my right.”
Moualem and Ban argued for several minutes, talking over one another, as other delegates looked on. Moualem and Ban argued for several minutes, talking over one another, as other delegates exchanged looks.
“Let me finish my speech,” Moulaem said angrily, and Ban let him go on. “Let me finish my speech,” Moualem said angrily, and Ban let him go on.
Moualem told the delegates that al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting 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’s troops come from more than 80 nations. Moualem told the delegates that al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting 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 that the fighters battling Assad’s troops come from more than 80 nations.
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.
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, complained that most participants appeared to be “pre-selected” and biased against Syria.
In a mark of the high emotions on all sides, the closing news conference with Brahimi and Ban erupted in shouting, as Syrian journalists accused Ban of ignoring their questions.
Syrian activists who came to cover the meeting for opposition news organizations expressed disappointment that the Syrian government was so uncompromising.Syrian activists who came to cover the meeting for opposition news organizations expressed disappointment that the Syrian government was so uncompromising.
“Nothing has changed,” said Adnan Hadad of the Aleppo Media Center. “They came here to say the same old stuff they’ve been saying for the past three years.”“Nothing has changed,” said Adnan Hadad of the Aleppo Media Center. “They came here to say the same old stuff they’ve been saying for the past three years.”
At one point, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi strode into the press center and declared in a loud voice, “Assad is not leaving.” Still, Wednesday’s nine-hour session of speeches was notable simply because members of the Syrian opposition and the government sat in the same room without walking out.
Still, Wednesday’s 9-hour session of speeches was notable simply because members of the Syrian opposition and the government sat in the same room without walking out. There was a sense that a bridge had been crossed, a hurdle overcome. Ban said afterward that the discussions were cordial, and Kerry said the initial confrontations were to be expected.
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. “Opening positions are opening positions,” he told reporters. He set no timetable for the negotiations but suggested they will be lengthy and difficult. “Talk takes awhile,” Kerry said.
“People just want it to end,” said a Damascus resident interviewed while on a recent visit to Beirut. “They don’t care how.” Diplomats and U.S. officials have cautioned that political breakthroughs are unlikely now. Rather, they say, the effort begun Wednesday will focus on confidence-building measures such as local cease-fires and deliveries of humanitarian aid — steps that might help build wider support for a peace process ahead of future talks.
The day closed on a more conciliatory note. In final comments, a more subdued Moualem stated that the conference had “charted the first steps to dialogue.” Ban said those discussions are likely, and welcome, but he also set no timetable.
Jarba stressed the need for a new “state of law…without discrimination,” adding: “we have to open the way for negotiations.” Diplomats attending the session said the two sides’ uncompromising public posturing concealed a deeper desire to see at least some results emerge from the negotiations.
The stage is now set, diplomats hope, for serious talks to begin on Friday. “This was their public position,” said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. “It was very obvious they were raising the rhetoric. I think their private positions will be different. . . . We don’t know what will happen in closed rooms.”
The day closed on a more conciliatory note. In final comments, a more subdued Moualem said the conference had “charted the first steps to dialogue.”
Jaafari told reporters, “There is a need to have this kind of Syrian-Syrian dialogue.”
Jarba added, “We have to open the way for negotiations.”
Suzan Haidamous and Susannah George in Beirut contributed to this report.Suzan Haidamous and Susannah George in Beirut contributed to this report.