Russian diplomats trying to save the inter-Syrian negotiations
A new round of talks on the Syrian crisis has not brought visible results, but Russian diplomats are trying to mitigate the conflict between the meeting in Geneva of delegations.
GENEVA, 2 Mar. /Offset. TASS Vasily Vavilin, Mr Kostyriv, Konstantin Gain, Grigory Sapozhnikov/. The next round of inter-Syrian negotiations in Geneva nearing the end of (the formal completion is expected on March 3), but significant results have not yet brought in, and contradictions between the participants after several days of consultations was almost more than at the beginning of the discussions.
Arrived in Switzerland earlier in the week, Russian diplomats in this situation, trying to mitigate the conflict and to find common ground among the gathering in Geneva of delegations.
Eloquent silence
For Tuesday and Wednesday, the special envoy of the UN Secretary General on Syria Staffan de Mistura met twice with representatives of the Syrian government and the Higher Committee on negotiations (CPSU), consultations were also held with the emissary of the UN with “Moscow” and “Cairo” opposition groups.
However, statements on the results of these discussions only did the members of the CPSU. The head of the delegation of the Syrian government, permanent representative of the RAA at the UN Bashar ja’afari has been silent since 25 February, when demanded from the opposition to condemn the attack in HOMS. From that day a very calm and de Mistura.
This behavior violates the established parties in the previous “Geneva” rounds tradition, when the participants talked about their results after each meeting and suggests what to talk about.
According to the plan of the UN envoy, the negotiations at this stage should be devoted to the definition of work order in subsequent rounds. In a prepared de Mistura the document we are talking about the three tracks on which he intends to focus on the formation of the government, the schedule for the preparation of the Constitution and the holding of elections. For each of these items is requested to prepare a work plan.
However, according to unofficial information, the stumbling block was the question of adding to these three points, one on combating terrorism. Insists the delegation of the Syrian government. De Mistura believes that the discussion is more suitable Playground of Astana. The CPSU prefers to talk about a political settlement.
Disputes on the sidelines
According to sources TASS, the meeting on Wednesday, de Mistura and Jaafari are unable to come to a consensus on the inclusion of the issue of combating terrorism in the agenda in Geneva.
Another version quoted by the Agency SANA, citing its sources in the government negotiating team. In the message it is emphasized that delegation is “satisfied with the negotiations in Geneva and presented at the meeting with the special envoy of the UN Secretary General Staffan de Mistura, their comments on the document on the agenda”.
The source notes that “for two days in Geneva were deep and productive talks between the delegation of the Syrian government and de Mistura”.
“They (negotiations) culminated in the agreement on the agenda, which will consist of four items (terrorism, government, Constitution, elections — approx. TASS)”, — stated in the message. The source stressed that all areas of negotiation are the same in significance.
Meanwhile, in the ranks of the CPSU once again intensified the contradiction between willing to negotiate a moderate wing and a more radical delegation, insisting on a sharp reaction on ceasefire violations in Syria by government forces and fighting on his side Hezbollah and the veto by Russia and China of a resolution that proposed sanctions for the alleged cases of chemical weapons use.
Moscow Says
Against this background, two days in a row the main source of information about the situation at the talks was Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs Gennady Gatilov arrived in Geneva to attend the high-level segment session of the UN Council on human rights.
At the same time he has already held two meetings with de Mistura and Jaafari, as well as individual consultations with the CPSU, “Moscow” and “Cairo” opposition groups. These discussions were also attended by the Director of the Department of Middle East and North Africa Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Vershinin.
On Wednesday, Gatilov announced interim results held in these days, which is likely to continue until the end of the round. And selected a diplomat of the wording, emphasizing the principled position of Russia, obviously had to show that the opportunity to continue discussions at the Geneva site is.
Regarding the meeting with the CPSU Gatilov indicated that it “was constructive, there is a common understanding of the need to move forward in resolving the Syrian crisis.” He added that the delegation of the CPSU agrees with the proposed de Mistura agenda, and that it inspires hope in the actual beginning of the process of the Syrian settlement.
Gatilov recalled that at Geneva there are also the “Moscow” and “Cairo” group of the Syrian opposition, and assured that the program de Mistura agreed to by all the negotiating parties.
Regarding the truce, the violation of which the representatives of the CPSU has repeatedly accused government forces of Syria, Deputy foreign Minister of the Russian Federation confirmed that they were discussed. However, according to him, these accusations are rather connected with the fact that the CPSU did not have all the necessary information about the situation. “They were on the facts shown by the opposition of violations of the ceasefire a lot more in several times than there are those by government troops, he said. — Have the impression that they just do not have all the information that exists “on the ground”.
Gatilov has supported the delegation of the Syrian government that the issue of combating terrorism should be included in the agenda in Geneva. “It’s natural, and we support that, because the threat of terrorism is an issue that must be addressed as a priority, he said. — We talked about this to Mr. de Mistura, absolutely frankly and openly said.”
Cautious optimism the opposition
While one of the journalists went to the building of the Russian mission in Geneva, where the Deputy foreign Minister gave a press conference, other media representatives were awaiting the arrival of the opposition to the hotel. The consultations with Russian diplomats said the Deputy chief coordinator of the CPSU Hot Stones.
“We have reached understanding on a number of issues, but it will take additional time,” with care he said. “We will need to meet again to achieve greater progress. This is a positive signal, but to promise anything too early,” — said Kadmani.
“We want Russia to put pressure (on the government of Syria — approx. TASS), and was the guarantor of the process of transfer of power, — he stressed. — We gave them our explanations on all items (our position in the negotiations — approx. TASS), and made their proposals on different topics”.
Russia has strong relations with Syria, and we note that, from Astana, we are moving in the right direction. Emphasize that we can build relationships on the basis of this meeting.member of the Higher Committee on negotiations
On the question of whether there is a likelihood that the fight against terrorism will be included in the agenda of the “Geneva-4”, Cadman gave a negative answer. “Our priority is the transfer of power,” he said. “The resolution (UNSC 2254 — approx. TASS) has an article which States that the countries that have adopted it indicates the international nature of the problem, not that it is a subject for negotiation,” — said Kadmani.
Reporters also asked whether you discussed at the meeting with Russian diplomats the departure of Bashar al-Assad as President of Syria, which is one of the main demands of the opposition. “No, not this round,” briefly replied the member of the CPSU, without giving any additional comments.
Report without a visit to the site
In addition to the differences between delegations, the compromise in Geneva is likely to hinder, exacerbating the already tense atmosphere at the intra-Syrian talks, published on Wednesday openly controversial report of the UN Commission to investigate human rights violations in Syria.
It is entirely devoted to the events in Aleppo in July-December of last year, when government forces fought heavy battles with militants and terrorists, freeing them quarter after quarter.
The report attempts to equate the legitimate government and terrorists: it is emphasized that “all sides committed war crimes leading to civilian casualties”. It is noted, however, that the militants used civilians as “human shields”, were the indiscriminate shelling of the territories where there were no military targets, and “in most cases, this led to the terrorizing of the population in Western part of Aleppo in violation of international humanitarian law.”
However, at a press conference devoted to the presentation of the report, it was found that the investigation conducted by the Commission, can hardly be considered “competent”, despite assurances by its Chairman, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. He said that information about events in Aleppo was obtained during the “over 290” interviews with “witnesses” — these hearings were held in Geneva or remotely — from Syria.
The materials also provided a number of governments and non-governmental organizations. While on the scene in Aleppo, the Commission has not travelled with the Syrian government contacts on the subject of the investigation had not, and his version of events, respectively, in the dossier no.