Opinion: Syria 2016 – A Replay of Syria 1920
Eyad Abu Shakra for Ashar al-Awsat (London-based, pan-Arab newspaper)
February 1, 2016
Washington is truly working for an independent Kurdish state in the near east
Washington is truly working for an independent Kurdish state in the near east
International players urge Syrian opposition to attend talks as debate continues around the composition of the opposition’s delegation, goodwill measures, and the negotiation agenda ahead of Friday’s peace talks in Geneva
Rebuilding houses in Wadi al-Dayf has also created job opportunities for many local residents
Locals wary of Nusra Front’s motives for sending hundreds of reinforcements to secure Aleppo amid rumors of a regime-ISIS surprise offensive
Opposition negotiating body says it is ready to participate in Geneva peace talks on the basis of the 2012 Geneva statement and Security Council Resolution 2118
Opposition figure declares his intention to return to High Committee for Negotiations after a dispute led to his withdrawal a month ago
Free-speech activist speaks to German television in first interview since his release from custody in Syria last year
Foreign ministry calls on UN to denounce foreign states backing terrorism in Syria after two bombs killed 24 people in Homs on Tuesday
Opposition’s negotiating delegation in disarray as US secretary of state warns it could lose political and military support if it refuses to accept the conditions of the upcoming Geneva talks
Opposition figures rally in Turkey’s largest city ahead of peace talks in Geneva to protest the international community’s submission to Moscow and Damascus’ demands
Russia’s support for regime onslaught of moderate opposition and civilians risks damaging the already fragile process of intra-Syrian negotiations
Invitation comes in light of the ongoing attempts by Russia to impose specific names on the opposition’s representation at the Geneva peace talks
Opposition figure says Saudi foreign minister “personally” responsible for delay of the upcoming Geneva peace talks
Pro-regime forces prevent food from entering towns and villages in southern Hama and northern Homs in an effort to force armed opposition to comply with demands
Local Coordination Committee condemns Turkish authorities for refusing to permit families escaping ISIS and regime air strikes from crossing border
Parliament speaker urges OIC member states to commit to fighting terrorism hand in hand with governments of Syria and Iraq
Coalition says John Kerry is attempting to pressure the opposition’s negotiations committee to backtrack on its demands for attending negotiations with the Assad regime
An empowered Moscow, with its military presence and its “perpetual” military accord, has forced its interlocutors — including the Americans — to make one of two choices: a mixed opposition list; or two delegations, one the “Russian list,” and the other the “Riyadh list”
The Russian influence has resulted in preventing the “Syrian Democratic Forces” from advancing toward al-Shadadi, an oil-rich region, and turning to fight the Islamic State along the fronts of the Aleppo countryside.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has sent an open letter to the leaders of the EU.
