Syrian Peace Talks Update

By: Cassidy Shirlow

Syrian peace talks that were held in Geneva ended with no firm agreement. However, Lakhdar Brahimi (UN) noticed some “common ground”and has set a date for yet another peace talk that is said to be held on February 10. “Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the opposition were immature, while the opposition’s Louay Safi said the regime had no desire to stop the bloodshed.” Safi had said to the media that this can’t be resolved over endless talks and conferences and that the government should just consider handing the power over. Ahmed Jabar, the opposition leader, stated that he and his group only know regimes of blood and death. The two sides discussed ways to end all the violence and made agreements to end ceasefires, but some members in the UN do not think agreements on ceasefires will have an effect on some cities in Syria. Brahimi says, “Progress is very slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner. This is a very modest beginning, but it is a beginning on which we can build.”The two sides couldn’t decide on the focus of the talks: opposition wanting to talk about political power and the government wanting to talk about terrorism. Some opposition groups did not even attend the meeting in Geneva, but diplomats still say the tension in the room was intense and extreme.