Syrian Delegation Travels from Beirut to Geneva for Peace Talks
The Syrian delegation traveled on Sunday from Beirut to Geneva where it is set to participate in the second round of the upcoming peace negotiations with the opposition under UN auspices, the state-run National News Agency reported.
“The Syrian delegation headed by Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, traveled from Beirut to Geneva to participate in the meetings, which will start Monday,” NNA added.
Syria's warring sides prepared Sunday for fresh peace talks after locking horns over the fate of President Bashar Assad, with the regime insisting his ouster was a "red line" while the opposition vowed to see him go -- dead or alive.
The UN-brokered indirect negotiations are the latest international push to try to end Syria's five-year conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Government negotiator Bashar Jaafari arrived in Geneva, where delegates from the main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) are already preparing.
Analysts say much has changed since the last round collapsed in February as fighting raged, but that the huge regime-opposition divide will complicate a settlement.
A fragile February 27 truce brokered by the United States and Russia has largely held despite each side accusing the other of violations, a development U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said was "very significant".
But key obstacles remain, including the fate of Assad, the holding of elections within 18 months and the shape of any new government.
The HNC has repeatedly called for Assad's departure as a prerequisite for any deal.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura has said the Geneva meetings, opening on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the start of the conflict in March 2011, would not last more than 10 days.
Source: Naharnet
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