Syria Talks Stutter

Just days after Syrian talks in Geneva began to try and end five years of war, the United Nations mediator called for a temporary pause for three weeks due to differences between government and opposition delegations on the priority of humanitarian issues. UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura asked for an immediate implementation of a humanitarian initiative before substantive talks started. He stressed both sides insist they are interested in having the political process begin and set February 25th for the next session. Mediator de Mistura made clear he is under no illusions about the difficulties in ending a war that has killed over 250,000 people, sent over 4 million fleeing the country, displaced 6.5 million internally, and put 13.5 million people inside the country in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Reportedly, he expected posturing, walk-outs and disappointments. However, he was not frustrated, but rather determined, yet realistic. He emphasized the UN cannot allow simple procedural matters to "become more important than actually the results of humanitarian situation of the Syrian people who have been waiting for us to deliver this time, not a conference, but something concrete for them.” Talks between the sides are not face-to-face but indirect, with parties caucusing in different rooms. The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) comprising the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries including the United States and Russia, laid the groundwork for the Geneva talks at a meeting last fall. Hopefully, there will be progress to report later in the month. See more here from www.un.org-- bit.ly/1QfpGzz

Syrian Mediation

This week, a second round in the fragile peace talks resumed in Geneva between Syria’s government and opposition representatives. United Nations mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, has reportedly maintained a cautious style, structuring meetings with opposition delegates of armed groups fighting in Syria, and later with the Assad government. Interestingly, the UN mediator presented both sides with a memorandum ahead of the mediation, proposing four main principles for dialogue: ending the violence and fighting terrorism; forming a transitional governing body; defining the relationship between the government and security services; and starting some form of national reconciliation. This time, Mr. Brahimi has apparently avoided bringing the warring parties together face to face, to avoid some rancorous exchanges that occurred during prior direct meetings. Rather, it is said he desires to keep the best chance of progress on confidence-building measures previously proposed, including cease-fires and prisoner exchanges. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies have been evacuating civilians trapped for two years in the Old City of Homs and delivering food and medicines to those remaining during an extended cease-fire there. Additionally, the international effort to destroy Syrian chemical weapons has stalled with recent deadlines missed. Later this week, Mr. Brahimi meets Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, hopefully having made more progress. See story here-- http://nyti.ms/1fe1xaa