Shaaban Says Thursday Talks to Cover Terrorism
SANA (State news agency)
January 30, 2014
Shaaban says the Coalition only wants to discuss certain items of the Geneva I communique
Shaaban says the Coalition only wants to discuss certain items of the Geneva I communique
Syria’s armed conflict escalated even further in 2013 as the government intensified its attacks and began using increasingly deadly and indiscriminate weapons, culminating in a chemical weapons attack on the Damascus countryside on August 21
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
No way Assad to be part of the transition plan, and he could not regain legitimacy to govern, Kerry says
President did not give interview to Russian agency, office says
Coalition wants to postpone Geneva II talks by two weeks
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
The source said the Coalition will decide whether to go to Geneva II on Saturday or Sunday
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
Russia is prepared to change its position on the Syrian crisis if Assad does not cooperate with the plan to dismantle his chemical arsenal
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
Russia said the statement did not mention the crimes of the opposition
Assad, preoccupied with his fireworks display on Syrian land, suddenly feels that his mission will end and his grasp on power will not last
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
Russian will be offered from next year
