Geneva II: Negotiations or Theatre of Syrian Blood?
Walid al-Bunni for The Syrian Observer
January 31, 2014
The failure of the Geneva talks should serve as a lesson for the opposition to redraw its strategy
The failure of the Geneva talks should serve as a lesson for the opposition to redraw its strategy
Western officials are seeking concessions on the delivery of humanitarian aid
Sources say the escalation in American policy aims to isolate extremists and put pressure on the Syrian regime
The table facing the entrance of the Firdoss cafe in the center of Damascus still has its regular customers – a theater director, a poet, a musician and a novelist
Regime delegates focus on fighting terrorism, while opposition concerned with transitional government
U.S. official says the balance of power is in favor of the regime
Caution towards the talks reflects a lack of faith in the international community
Below is the speech of Assad’s Foreign Minister at the Geneva 2 talks as published by SANA, the official news agency
Coalition wants to postpone Geneva II talks by two weeks
Adnan Abdulrazak writes for The Syrian Observer on the businessman who mediated between the Syrian regime and major superpowers
Assad appeared at ease, wearing a navy blue suit and smiling regularly throughout the 45-minute interview
Geneva II should pave way for interim governing body with executive powers
Official tells BBC that the allies said the group will lose credibility if they don’t attend
The real dilemma produced by US–Russian cooperation on the Syrian issue is the attempt to remove regional partners from the political equation in a provocative manner
After the ceremonies in Montreux when the two Syrian delegations, Lakhdar Brahimi, and Jeffrey Feltman go to Geneva to negotiate, the urgent issues will be somewhere else
The Coalition is in crisis after mass resignations
If Geneva II is to be held this January, it would come up with nothing more than initiating a series of fragile, futile negotiations
The failure of the international community to support the Syrian revolution prompts questions about their real intentions
The parties promoting democracy and coexistence have remained silent for too long
U.S. policy on Syria has been contradictory from the very beginning of the crisis
