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| Syria peace talks get nowhere slowly | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Expectations were low in advance of the conference but this was no | Expectations were low in advance of the conference but this was no |
| diplomatic trick designed to produce a surprise “triumph”. Prospects for | diplomatic trick designed to produce a surprise “triumph”. Prospects for |
| success genuinely range from the slender to the non-existent. Still, | success genuinely range from the slender to the non-existent. Still, |
| just keeping the parties talking is an achievement – even if the contact is | just keeping the parties talking is an achievement – even if the contact is |
| indirect, via the UN mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi. These are face-to-face | indirect, via the UN mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi. These are face-to-face |
| talks. But there has been no banter or handshakes. | talks. But there has been no banter or handshakes. |
| The negotiations are expected to resume around 10 February, diplomats | The negotiations are expected to resume around 10 February, diplomats |
| say, after trilateral meetings between Brahimi, US and Russian | say, after trilateral meetings between Brahimi, US and Russian |
| officials in line with his repeated appeal to those who have influence | officials in line with his repeated appeal to those who have influence |
| with the warring parties to use it positively. | with the warring parties to use it positively. |
| Brahimi has made clear every day that little has been achieved in | Brahimi has made clear every day that little has been achieved in |
| room 16 of the Palais des Nations, the UN’s sprawling Geneva HQ. Still, | room 16 of the Palais des Nations, the UN’s sprawling Geneva HQ. Still, |
| the veteran Algerian diplomat believes the “ice has been broken” and | the veteran Algerian diplomat believes the “ice has been broken” and |
| that having a stuttering peace process is better than not having one – | that having a stuttering peace process is better than not having one – |
| even as the war, suffering and destruction go on. Opposition sources | even as the war, suffering and destruction go on. Opposition sources |
| reported 433 civilians dead including 76 children during | reported 433 civilians dead including 76 children during |
| the talks so far. | the talks so far. |
| In Thursday morning’s session the two teams agreed to observe a | In Thursday morning’s session the two teams agreed to observe a |
| minute’s silence to remember the victims of “terrorism” – but quickly | minute’s silence to remember the victims of “terrorism” – but quickly |
| blamed each other for perpetrating the violence. Then the | blamed each other for perpetrating the violence. Then the |
| representatives of the Syrian opposition coalition (SOC) produced | representatives of the Syrian opposition coalition (SOC) produced |
| documents about torture and atrocities by the government, which duly | documents about torture and atrocities by the government, which duly |
| accused them of treason. The afternoon session was cancelled. | accused them of treason. The afternoon session was cancelled. |
| Hopes for confidence-building measures to create a positive | Hopes for confidence-building measures to create a positive |
| atmosphere were dashed after a prematurely described “breakthrough” deal | atmosphere were dashed after a prematurely described “breakthrough” deal |
| to allow women and children to leave the besieged rebel-held old city | to allow women and children to leave the besieged rebel-held old city |
| of Homs failed to materialise. Nor was a convoy of aid trucks allowed to | of Homs failed to materialise. Nor was a convoy of aid trucks allowed to |
| enter the area – to accusations that Assad’s forces are trying to | enter the area – to accusations that Assad’s forces are trying to |
| “starve out” a 3,000-strong rebel enclave. Rebel mistrust, based on | “starve out” a 3,000-strong rebel enclave. Rebel mistrust, based on |
| bitter experience, was fuelled by a government demand for lists of men | bitter experience, was fuelled by a government demand for lists of men |
| in the area. In a conflict that has already killed an estimated 130,000 | in the area. In a conflict that has already killed an estimated 130,000 |
| people there are victims aplenty for both sides to mourn. | people there are victims aplenty for both sides to mourn. |
| The hardest part of the talks was always going to be about Syria’s | The hardest part of the talks was always going to be about Syria’s |
| future political arrangements. The goal, laid down by the Geneva I | future political arrangements. The goal, laid down by the Geneva I |
| communique in June 2012, is to create a “transitional governing body”. | communique in June 2012, is to create a “transitional governing body”. |
| That is supposed to happen by “mutual consent”. Since Assad insists he | That is supposed to happen by “mutual consent”. Since Assad insists he |
| will not step down and the opposition is adamant that he must go it is | will not step down and the opposition is adamant that he must go it is |
| unclear how that circle can be squared. Asked to answer that question, | unclear how that circle can be squared. Asked to answer that question, |
| Brahimi quipped engagingly: “Ideas – I’ll take them with great | Brahimi quipped engagingly: “Ideas – I’ll take them with great |
| pleasure.” | pleasure.” |
| No one can accuse the Damascus government of sending mixed signals. | No one can accuse the Damascus government of sending mixed signals. |
| Tishrin, a state newspaper, declared: “The government delegation did not | Tishrin, a state newspaper, declared: “The government delegation did not |
| go to Geneva to hand power to those who have conspired against the | go to Geneva to hand power to those who have conspired against the |
| people.” Omran al- Zoabi, the information minister, said that the idea | people.” Omran al- Zoabi, the information minister, said that the idea |
| that Assad would step down was “straight out of Alice in Wonderland”. | that Assad would step down was “straight out of Alice in Wonderland”. |
| Both sides have been more active outside the Palais des Nations than | Both sides have been more active outside the Palais des Nations than |
| inside it, broadcasting their irreconcileable narratives to the TV | inside it, broadcasting their irreconcileable narratives to the TV |
| crews camped outside. “It’s a game of international messaging,” said one | crews camped outside. “It’s a game of international messaging,” said one |
| opposition adviser. “It’s about shaping public opinion, that’s what | opposition adviser. “It’s about shaping public opinion, that’s what |
| matters at this stage.” Buthaina Shaaban, a Shakespeare scholar who is | matters at this stage.” Buthaina Shaaban, a Shakespeare scholar who is |
| Assad’s media adviser, has been a steely advocate for him, emphasising | Assad’s media adviser, has been a steely advocate for him, emphasising |
| the fight against “terrorism” – the regime’s blanket term for all | the fight against “terrorism” – the regime’s blanket term for all |
| rebels. Rafif Jouejati, the daughter of a former Syrian ambassador to | rebels. Rafif Jouejati, the daughter of a former Syrian ambassador to |
| the US, makes the case for the opposition in fluent American English | the US, makes the case for the opposition in fluent American English |
| soundbytes. | soundbytes. |
| The good news, such as it is, is that neither side wants to be first | The good news, such as it is, is that neither side wants to be first |
| to slam the door and will be back in Geneva after a break. Neither | to slam the door and will be back in Geneva after a break. Neither |
| wishes to be blamed for the collapse of a process that the international | wishes to be blamed for the collapse of a process that the international |
| community has invested in so heavily – largely because it has not got a | community has invested in so heavily – largely because it has not got a |
| better idea how to stop the war, soon to enter its fourth year. If | better idea how to stop the war, soon to enter its fourth year. If |
| talks continue, the argument goes, something may change. As John Kerry | talks continue, the argument goes, something may change. As John Kerry |
| put it at last week’s grand launch in nearby Montreux: “Opening positions | put it at last week’s grand launch in nearby Montreux: “Opening positions |
| are opening positions. Let’s see what happens.” The unspoken hope of the | are opening positions. Let’s see what happens.” The unspoken hope of the |
| US secretary of state, and others, is that the Russians will ditch Assad | US secretary of state, and others, is that the Russians will ditch Assad |
| and allow a transition to take place without him. | and allow a transition to take place without him. |
| The bad news is that some fear Geneva risks turning into a talking | The bad news is that some fear Geneva risks turning into a talking |
| shop – an endless process that fails to produce peace while the | shop – an endless process that fails to produce peace while the |
| situation gets worse. “The regime is playing theatre,” argued Louay | situation gets worse. “The regime is playing theatre,” argued Louay |
| Safi, an opposition spokesman. “It wants to give the impression of wanting a | Safi, an opposition spokesman. “It wants to give the impression of wanting a |
| political solution but the situation on the ground reflects its | political solution but the situation on the ground reflects its |
| intentions. We look at deeds.” Yet as Brahimi put it, with apparently | intentions. We look at deeds.” Yet as Brahimi put it, with apparently |
| infinite patience: “We are doing what the situation allows, what the | infinite patience: “We are doing what the situation allows, what the |
| market can bear.” | market can bear.” |