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First Round of Syria Talks Is Set to Begin After a Shaky Opening After Shaky Beginning, Sides Report Progress at Syria Peace Talks
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — The fragile efforts to begin a diplomatic process to end the war in Syria seemed on Thursday night to be on track to produce a first round of negotiations, even though the two sides did not appear ready to meet face to face as had initially been hoped.GENEVA — The fragile efforts to begin a diplomatic process to end the war in Syria seemed on Thursday night to be on track to produce a first round of negotiations, even though the two sides did not appear ready to meet face to face as had initially been hoped.
The Syrian government and the fractious opposition coalition said that they were ready to continue the efforts, and government and opposition delegations were set to meet Friday morning in two adjacent rooms, with a veteran United Nations diplomat, Lakhdar Brahimi, shuttling back and forth.The Syrian government and the fractious opposition coalition said that they were ready to continue the efforts, and government and opposition delegations were set to meet Friday morning in two adjacent rooms, with a veteran United Nations diplomat, Lakhdar Brahimi, shuttling back and forth.
The sense of progress described by opposition, government and international sponsors alike was in part because of the extraordinarily low expectations for the first meeting between a Syrian opposition delegation that demands the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and a government delegation that insists the purpose of the conference is to fight terrorism and that the presidency is “a red line.” The sense of progress described by opposition, government and international sponsors alike was in part because of the extraordinarily low expectations for the first meeting between a Syrian opposition delegation that demands the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and a government delegation that insists the purpose of the conference is to fight terrorism, and that the presidency is “a red line.”
“The aim for tomorrow is to make sure that neither side walks out,” a Western diplomat said Thursday. Asked how he rated the chances that the talks would last through the day, the diplomat cast his eyes toward the ceiling for a moment. “I think there’s a good chance,” he said. “The aim for tomorrow is to make sure that neither side walks out,” a Western diplomat said on Thursday night. Asked how he rated the chances that the talks would last through the day, the diplomat cast his eyes toward the ceiling for a long moment. “I think there’s a good chance,” he said.
The rockiness that characterized the opening statements on Wednesday in Montreux was still apparent in the wrangling over details. No flags will be displayed, since each side abhors the other’s banner.The rockiness that characterized the opening statements on Wednesday in Montreux was still apparent in the wrangling over details. No flags will be displayed, since each side abhors the other’s banner.
“Both sides agreed it was too early to sit together, as there is absolutely no common ground,” said Louay Safi, a spokesman for the coalition. “The parties agreed that it is too early. There is no common ground at all,” said Louay Safi, a spokesman for the Syrian exile coalition.
Ahmad al-Jarba, the president of the Syrian exile opposition coalition, will not be on the opposition’s negotiating team. No one would say why, but the government holds him in particular contempt, and there was speculation that his absence was a government demand. Ahmad Assi al-Jarba, the president of the coalition, will not be on the opposition’s negotiating team. No one would say why he would not participate, but the government holds him in particular contempt, and there was speculation that his absence was a government demand.
Mr. Jarba, at an evening news conference, said it was not important for him to be in the room personally, and that the delegation attending would be fully empowered by him to negotiate on the coalition’s behalf — a statement that was progress for an opposition coalition long criticized as deeply divided, full of competing egos and unable to work for a common goal.Mr. Jarba, at an evening news conference, said it was not important for him to be in the room personally, and that the delegation attending would be fully empowered by him to negotiate on the coalition’s behalf — a statement that was progress for an opposition coalition long criticized as deeply divided, full of competing egos and unable to work for a common goal.
The government said it was committed to continuing the talks and that even a transition could be discussed — once “the issue of terrorism is addressed.”The government said it was committed to continuing the talks and that even a transition could be discussed — once “the issue of terrorism is addressed.”
From its early moments on Wednesday, the conference on Syria was marked by acrimony, when Syria’s foreign minister described Syrian rebels as “evil” and ignored appeals by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, to avoid invective or even to yield the floor.From its early moments on Wednesday, the conference on Syria was marked by acrimony, when Syria’s foreign minister described Syrian rebels as “evil” and ignored appeals by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, to avoid invective or even to yield the floor.
By the end of the day, the sense that the talks were headed for trouble was compounded when the proceedings ended without any hint of progress toward imposing local cease-fires or opening humanitarian corridors for the delivery of food and medicine to besieged towns and cities.By the end of the day, the sense that the talks were headed for trouble was compounded when the proceedings ended without any hint of progress toward imposing local cease-fires or opening humanitarian corridors for the delivery of food and medicine to besieged towns and cities.
The government, for its part, insisted it was committed to continuing the talks.The government, for its part, insisted it was committed to continuing the talks.
“No way we shall leave the room, absolutely,” Fayssal Mekdad, the deputy foreign minister, said in an interview. “Even if nobody else is left.”“No way we shall leave the room, absolutely,” Fayssal Mekdad, the deputy foreign minister, said in an interview. “Even if nobody else is left.”
“We have to agree on a formula where all terrorist organizations should be fought by all Syrians and be expelled,” he said. “Those who are financing, supporting, arming and harboring terrorists should be made accountable.”“We have to agree on a formula where all terrorist organizations should be fought by all Syrians and be expelled,” he said. “Those who are financing, supporting, arming and harboring terrorists should be made accountable.”
While few dispute that extremist Islamist militant groups have taken root in rebel-held Syria or that foreign donors have sustained them, the government has typically referred to all its opponents as terrorists. And while Geneva 1 calls for foreign states to stop financing militias in Syria, the government insists that does not include its support from Iran and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. While no one disputes that extremist Islamist militant groups have taken root in rebel-held Syria or that foreign donors have sustained them, the government has typically referred to all its opponents as terrorists. And while the Geneva I accords, the basis for the current talks, call for foreign states to stop financing militias in Syria, the government insists that does not include its support from Iran and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.
Diplomats found hope in common language used by both the government and the opposition. Both sides, over the past two days, have declared that the Geneva 1 accords, the basis for the current talks, are “a single package” or “a basket” — that is, none of the goals they set out can be discussed in isolation of the others, including a transitional government, humanitarian aid and an end to violence. Diplomats found hope in common language used by the government and the opposition. Both sides, over the past two days, have declared that the Geneva I accords are “a single package” or “a basket” — that is, none of the goals they set out can be discussed in isolation, including a transitional government, humanitarian aid and an end to violence.
While the opposition focuses on a transitional government, and the government focuses on “fighting terrorism,” both of those goals fall within the Geneva 1 package. While the opposition focuses on a transitional government, and the government focuses on “fighting terrorism,” both of those goals fall within the Geneva I package.
Wednesday’s opening statements in Montreux, before an audience of representatives from more than 40 countries, were characterized by harsh accusations and hard-line positions. Wednesday’s opening statements in Montreux were characterized by harsh accusations and hard-line positions.
But the Western diplomat noted that the Syrian government position seemed to moderate over the course of the day, particularly after an inflammatory opening speech by the foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, met with nearly unanimous disapproval.But the Western diplomat noted that the Syrian government position seemed to moderate over the course of the day, particularly after an inflammatory opening speech by the foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, met with nearly unanimous disapproval.
The diplomat said it was possible that the Russians, the Syrians’ most powerful ally, had urged them to rein in their language. Mr. Moallem did not appear at a news conference Wednesday night, but instead the smoother Bashar Jaafari, Syria’s representative to the United Nations in New York. The diplomat said it was possible that the Russians, the Syrians’ most powerful ally, had urged them to rein in their language. Mr. Moallem did not appear at a news conference Wednesday night; instead, the smoother Bashar Jaafari, Syria’s representative to the United Nations in New York, did.
Mr. Jaafari, the diplomat noted, stated that the Syrians were “here to implement Geneva 1,” something the foreign minister had not conceded. Mr. Jaafari, the diplomat noted, stated that the Syrians were “here to implement Geneva I,” something the foreign minister has not conceded.
In between, representatives of 40 countries had spoken, and all, even China, Russia, India and other countries the Syrian government considers sympathetic, had emphasized the importance of adhering to Geneva 1, including its goal of a transitional government chosen by “mutual consent.” In between, representatives of 40 countries had taken the podium. And all, even China, Russia, India and other countries the Syrian government considers sympathetic, had emphasized the importance of adhering to Geneva I, including its goal of a transitional government chosen by “mutual consent.”
“The regime heard the message,” the diplomat said. “To stick with what Moallem said will leave Syria completely isolated.”“The regime heard the message,” the diplomat said. “To stick with what Moallem said will leave Syria completely isolated.”
Iran, Syria’s closest ally, has declined to endorse Geneva 1, which resulted in its invitation being rescinded. Mr. Mekdad called this an American plot to stack the conference with “anti-Syrian” countries. Asked if there were 40 countries in the world that support the Syrian government, he said, “absolutely” but did not list them. Iran, Syria’s closest ally, has declined to endorse Geneva I, which resulted in its invitation being rescinded. Mr. Mekdad called this an American plot to stack the conference with “anti-Syrian” countries. Asked if there were 40 countries in the world that support the Syrian government, he said “absolutely,” but did not list them.
At Davos on Thursday, Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, called for free and fair elections in Syria, part of a speech generally regarded as conciliatory to the West. At Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, called for free and fair elections in Syria, part of a speech generally regarded as conciliatory to the West.
For its part, the opposition coalition needs to be seen as delivering something after its decision, controversial among its base, to attend the talks, Western diplomats said. That means staying and talking.For its part, the opposition coalition needs to be seen as delivering something after its decision, controversial among its base, to attend the talks, Western diplomats said. That means staying and talking.
On Thursday, Mr. Jarba said the coalition’s top priority remained Mr. Assad’s departure. But afterward, his chief of staff said that the immediate priorities were to talk about humanitarian access, cease-fires and prisoner exchanges, the confidence-building measures that the United States and Russia hope could build momentum for the political process.On Thursday, Mr. Jarba said the coalition’s top priority remained Mr. Assad’s departure. But afterward, his chief of staff said that the immediate priorities were to talk about humanitarian access, cease-fires and prisoner exchanges, the confidence-building measures that the United States and Russia hope could build momentum for the political process.
Coalition members and their supporters were riding high, feeling that they had come across as the more statesmanlike of the two parties.Coalition members and their supporters were riding high, feeling that they had come across as the more statesmanlike of the two parties.
“One thing they’ve gotten good at is going to conferences,” joked Adnan Hadad, an opposition activist from Aleppo attending the meeting as a journalist, a dig at the coalition members’ frequent stays in hotels trying to shore up international support and iron out internal differences.“One thing they’ve gotten good at is going to conferences,” joked Adnan Hadad, an opposition activist from Aleppo attending the meeting as a journalist, a dig at the coalition members’ frequent stays in hotels trying to shore up international support and iron out internal differences.