Russia, Arab League Push For Direct Syria Talks
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Leaders from Russia and the Arab League on Wednesday offered to broker talks between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Assad’s regime, in order to end the country’s two-year-long civil war, which has thus far claimed over 70,000 lives, the Associated Press reported.
Leaders from Russia and the Arab League on Wednesday offered to broker talks between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Assad’s regime, in order to end the country’s two-year-long civil war, which has thus far claimed over 70,000 lives, the Associated Press reported.
In a meeting in Moscow, where Russian hosted several Arab foreign ministers, the Kremlin and the Arab League said that they wanted to establish direct contact between the Syrian government and the opposition; and were encouraged that both parties had voiced readiness for dialogue.
“There have been signs of a positive tendency to start dialogue and both the government representatives and the opposition have begun speaking about this,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a joint news conference with Arab League head Nabil Elaraby.
[quote]“Neither side can allow itself to rely on a military solution to the conflict, because it’s a road to nowhere, a road to mutual destruction of the people,” Lavrov added, claiming that the main priority now was to create a transitional Syrian government to navigate a way out of the conflict.[/quote]Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem is expected to lead a delegation to Moscow next Monday, while Russia is also expecting a visit in March from the opposition Syrian National Coalition leader, Mouaz al-Khatib. Among the Arab League, several members, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have at one point or the other, proposed direct military intervention if the crisis in Syria continued to escalate.
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Elaraby said that Moscow’s influence with Assad’s regime could be crucial in ending the two years of conflict.
[quote]”Russia has very good connections with the regime in Damascus, and we hope that it uses this tight relationship to convince the government that this crisis can only be ended peacefully,” he said.[/quote]Nevertheless, Lavrov admitted that it would be up to the two sides to decide what kind of dialogue might take place and at what level.
“It is important that they do not come out with any conditions for each other, and say that I am going to talk to this person but not that one,” Lavrov noted, calling for a mutual agreement to the end of the conflict.
Previously, Al-Khatib had stated that he would be open to talks with the regime, but only if Assad first release tens of thousands of detainees. The government however have been steadfast in its refusal.
A senior member of the Syrian National Coalition also reacted coolly to Russia’s and the Arab League’s proposal.
[quote]“We cannot agree to that,” said Abdelbaset Sieda. “Assad and his group must go first. After that we can discuss with others in the regime who didn’t share in the killing of our people.”[/quote]Related: Can Syria’s Rebels Overthrow Assad? – Interview With Jellyfish Operations
According to the BBC, diplomats believe that both sides still think they can win the war, and don’t really want to talk to one another about a compromise solution.
The Syrian government in the past has proposed a “national dialogue”, but is insistent that it must preside over talks.
