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Russia Tells Syrian Opposition to Join Fight Against ‘Terrorism’ Russia Tells Syrian Opposition to Join Fight Against ‘Terrorism’
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — Russian officials accused the Syrian opposition’s Western backers on Friday of focusing solely on “regime change” and said the government would discuss political transition only if its opponents agreed on a joint fight against terrorism.GENEVA — Russian officials accused the Syrian opposition’s Western backers on Friday of focusing solely on “regime change” and said the government would discuss political transition only if its opponents agreed on a joint fight against terrorism.
The declarations — unlikely to produce compromise because the government tends to define all its armed opponents, including those backed by the opposition delegation here, as terrorists — added to the state of suspense at peace talks that so far have produced no progress. The negotiations this week were the second round, and there is now uncertainty over whether there will be a third.The declarations — unlikely to produce compromise because the government tends to define all its armed opponents, including those backed by the opposition delegation here, as terrorists — added to the state of suspense at peace talks that so far have produced no progress. The negotiations this week were the second round, and there is now uncertainty over whether there will be a third.
The statements came a day after a meeting of Russian, American and United Nations officials failed to produce a consensus on how to unblock the talks and push the parties toward substantive negotiations.The statements came a day after a meeting of Russian, American and United Nations officials failed to produce a consensus on how to unblock the talks and push the parties toward substantive negotiations.
The mood has grown increasingly grim here after a week of meetings produced no agreement even on an agenda, a failure that the United Nations mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, in unusually blunt comments at Thursday’s meeting, attributed squarely to the Syrian government, according to two Western diplomats.The mood has grown increasingly grim here after a week of meetings produced no agreement even on an agenda, a failure that the United Nations mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, in unusually blunt comments at Thursday’s meeting, attributed squarely to the Syrian government, according to two Western diplomats.
Mr. Brahimi, they said, complained that the Syrian delegation had refused to even touch, let alone read, a 24-point plan presented by the opposition on Wednesday on how to structure a political transition for Syria. Instead, they said, the government delegates left the paper on the table and walked away.Mr. Brahimi, they said, complained that the Syrian delegation had refused to even touch, let alone read, a 24-point plan presented by the opposition on Wednesday on how to structure a political transition for Syria. Instead, they said, the government delegates left the paper on the table and walked away.
The opposition delegates have agreed to a compromise agenda that would simultaneously address their top priority — the formation of a fully empowered transitional governing body “by mutual consent” — and that of the government, which is to end violence and terrorism in Syria.The opposition delegates have agreed to a compromise agenda that would simultaneously address their top priority — the formation of a fully empowered transitional governing body “by mutual consent” — and that of the government, which is to end violence and terrorism in Syria.
But the government delegates have so far refused, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Friday seemed to back them up, declaring that the opposition and its backers appeared solely focused on deposing President Bashar al-Assad.But the government delegates have so far refused, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Friday seemed to back them up, declaring that the opposition and its backers appeared solely focused on deposing President Bashar al-Assad.
“All they want to talk about is creating a transitional governing body,” Mr. Lavrov said, according to Russian news agencies.“All they want to talk about is creating a transitional governing body,” Mr. Lavrov said, according to Russian news agencies.
On Friday morning, as Mr. Brahimi met separately with the two sides, Gennady Gatilov, the Russian deputy foreign minister who is attending the talks, suggested a way out. On Friday morning, as Mr. Brahimi met separately with the two sides, Gennady Gatilov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, who is attending the talks, suggested a way out.
The government delegation would discuss the creation of a transitional governing body if the opposition formally committed to joining the government in battling “terrorism,” Mr. Gatilov said, according to the Russian news agencies. The opposition delegation, in its 24-point plan, gave prominent attention to ending violence in Syria by all sides, but did not use the word terrorism. The first point in the Geneva I communiqué, the basis for the current talks, calls for ending violence in Syria, but it does not mention terrorism. It also calls, in the sixth point, for the formation of a transitional governing body “by mutual consent.” The government delegation would discuss the creation of a transitional governing body if the opposition formally committed to joining the government in battling “terrorism,” Mr. Gatilov said, according to the Russian news agencies. The opposition delegation, in its 24-point plan, gave prominent attention to ending violence in Syria by all sides, but did not use the word “terrorism.” The first point in the Geneva communiqué that is the basis for the current talks calls for ending violence in Syria, but it does not mention terrorism. It also calls, in the sixth point, for the formation of a transitional governing body “by mutual consent.”
Russia has supported the government’s insistence on discussing the points in order.Russia has supported the government’s insistence on discussing the points in order.
Mr. Brahimi supports a parallel-track approach, and American officials had hoped for a Russian pledge to push Damascus to accept it but that was not forthcoming. Mr. Gatilov simply told Mr. Brahimi, “Keep trying,” one Western diplomat said. Mr. Brahimi supports a parallel-track approach, and American officials had hoped for a Russian pledge to push Damascus to accept it, but that was not forthcoming. Mr. Gatilov simply told Mr. Brahimi, “Keep trying,” one Western diplomat said.
Louay Safi, an opposition spokesman, said on Friday that the Russians, in a sideline meeting with opposition delegates on Thursday, had explicitly rejected the parallel approach. “They made it clear in all their meetings,” he said.Louay Safi, an opposition spokesman, said on Friday that the Russians, in a sideline meeting with opposition delegates on Thursday, had explicitly rejected the parallel approach. “They made it clear in all their meetings,” he said.
But the Western diplomat said that the Russians had not been so explicit, and had merely refused to propose concrete plans for persuading the Syrian government to negotiate.But the Western diplomat said that the Russians had not been so explicit, and had merely refused to propose concrete plans for persuading the Syrian government to negotiate.
The Russians, he said, also rejected a proposal, supported by the Americans, to have a five-way meeting to attempt to resolve the impasse, including Mr. Brahimi, the two Syrian sides and their Russian and American backers. The Russians, he said, also rejected a proposal, supported by the Americans, to have a five-way meeting to try to resolve the impasse. It would include Mr. Brahimi, the two Syrian sides and their Russian and American backers.
The inability to even agree on an agenda was “a very bad omen” for the Geneva process, the diplomat said.The inability to even agree on an agenda was “a very bad omen” for the Geneva process, the diplomat said.
“We expected that the talks would be difficult. We didn’t expect that they would be unable to compromise on an agenda and that frankly is not good,” he said. “We expected that the talks would be difficult,” he said. “We didn’t expect that they would be unable to compromise on an agenda, and that, frankly, is not good.”
Mr. Brahimi, he said, might call off the third round if he was concerned about his personal credibility in presiding over an empty process. Mr. Brahimi, he said, might call off the third round if he is concerned about his personal credibility in presiding over an empty process.
But other Western diplomats here noted that Mr. Brahimi is famously patient and that the Russians would not welcome a collapse of the talks that could be easily blamed on their allies, the Syrian government. But other Western diplomats here noted that Mr. Brahimi is famously patient and that the Russians would not welcome a collapse of the talks that could be easily attributed to their allies, the Syrian government.
United Nations officials said Friday morning that Mr. Brahimi had concluded his separate meetings with the two sides, but gave no details, and it was unclear whether there would be more meetings on Saturday. No further Russian-American meetings are planned, diplomats said.United Nations officials said Friday morning that Mr. Brahimi had concluded his separate meetings with the two sides, but gave no details, and it was unclear whether there would be more meetings on Saturday. No further Russian-American meetings are planned, diplomats said.