Syria peace talks begin in Geneva

[Bleipriester]

Lets see if there will be any outcome this time.

Syria peace talks begin in Geneva

 

[waltky]

Hurryin' the breakup of Syria...

US, Russia agree to speed up political process in Syria
Friday 25th March, 2016 - Russia and the United States have agreed to speed up progress towards a political solution in violence-wracked Syria and for drafting of a new Syrian constitution by August.

This was decided upon as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a four-hour meeting in Moscow on Thursday. Both sides agreed that US-Russian cooperation had been instrumental in achieving an unexpectedly successful cessation of hostilities in war-torn Syria. Kerry said that he was aware of violations of the cease-fire but that they were being carefully monitored. Putin welcomed Kerry with praise for US leadership in Syria: "We are aware that the groundwork we have on Syria has only been possible by the supreme political leadership of the United States, specifically by the leadership of President Obama."

Kerry said that cooperation between the United States and Russia had made it possible for Syrians to “taste and smell” what it means to have a reduction of violence and a resumption of some humanitarian aid deliveries after five years of bloodshed. Kerry said to Putin: "Mr. President, I know you have ideas, and you've already made a very critical decision with respect to a drawdown of forces in Syria. We obviously also have ideas on how we can now, most effectively, make progress in the United Nations talks in Geneva."

Kerry said Moscow and Washington would try to nudge Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to "make the right decision" and engage in the peace talks. The US believes that Russia, closely allied to Assad, can convince Damascus to make concessions. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a late-night joint press conference at the Kremlin after Thursday's lengthy talks. There were some awkward moments as some stark disagreements became apparent. But both Kerry and Lavrov assured reporters that Washington and Moscow were committed to establishing a more permanent peace in Syria, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid and launching a political transition.

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See also:

Syrians have no say in proposed Western carve up of country
Thursday 24th March, 2016The apparent sudden Russian military withdrawal from Syria, starting on March 15 left political commentators puzzled.

Few of the analyses offered should be taken seriously. There is little solid information as to why the Russian leader decided to end his country's military push in Syria. The intervention, which began last September, was enough to change the direction of the war on many fronts. However, one thing is for sure: the Russian withdrawal is reversible, as indicated by Vladimir Putin himself. "If necessary, literally within a few hours, Russia can build up its contingent in the region to a size proportionate to the situation developing there and use the entire arsenal of capabilities at our disposal," he said at the Kremlin on March 17. In fact, all parties involved are taking such a threat seriously, for the abrupt withdrawal has not renewed the appetite for war and does not present an opportunity for any major party in the conflict to pull out of the Geneva peace talks.

It is safe to say that after five years of war in Syria, the conflict is entering into a new phase. No, not a political resolution, but a grand political game that could divide the country into several entities, according to sectarian lines. If that takes place, it will bode badly, not only for Syria alone, but the whole region. Division would then become the buzzword according to which all current conflicts would be expected to be settled. While Russia's motives behind the withdrawal are yet to be clarified, the intrinsic link between it and the current talks, in which dividing Syria into a federation have been placed on the agenda, is unmistakable. "UN mediator, Staffan de Mistura, should be ashamed to have put 'federalism' on the agenda of this week's talks on ending the Syrian war and fashioning a 'new' Syria," wrote Michael Jensen in the Jordan Times. "Moscow, plus some Western powers, should also be sharply criticized for thinking of such a possibility."

Indeed, the model is not entirely Russian. The latter managed to rebalance the conflict in favor of the government of Bashar Al-Assad, but various other parties, western and Arab, in addition to Turkey and Iran, have also managed to steer the conflict to a virtual deadlock. With no goodwill involved, and little trust among the conflicting parties, dividing the country morphed from a far-fetched possibility to an actual one. Therefore, it came as no surprise that, while the Russian withdrawal was still taking place, and shortly after the resumption of talks in Geneva, the Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria declared itself a federal region in the north. Of, course, the move is unconstitutional, but Syria's violent bedlam has become the perfect opportunity for various groups to take matters into their own hands. After all, the very violent Daesh had carved a state for itself and fashioned an economy, created ministries and written new text books.

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[Freeman]

Lets see if there will be any outcome this time.

Syria peace talks begin in Geneva

Why your crappy regime will negotiate with whom he considers "terrorists" in the country?

 

[Bleipriester]

Lets see if there will be any outcome this time.

Syria peace talks begin in Geneva

Why your crappy regime will negotiate with whom he considers "terrorists" in the country?

They can give up their filthy war. Otherwise, government troops will be angry with them.