NAN-F-42
Talks
Geneva, Feb. 22, 2017 (dpa/NAN) The Syrian Government and its ally, Iran, are trying to derail peace talks in Geneva using military operations, an opposition delegate, Ahmed Ramadan, alleged on Wednesday.
Ramadan highlighted the level of distrust that overshadowed the UN-brokered negotiations ahead of the talks with the government which is scheduled to begin on Thursday at the Swiss UN seat.
“There is an Iranian plan, supported by the regime, to undermine the negotiations through military escalation.
“The situation was similar to the UN-brokered talks last year, when the opposition walked out in April to protest mounting attacks by government forces,’’ he said.
The agenda, set by the UN Security Council, foresees negotiations between the opposition and government on a transitional governance structure a new constitution and elections.
This was in an effort to end the war that has raged on for nearly six years.
While the opposition has demanded the quick resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, the government has rejected such a scenario.
Ramadan also said that the truce that had been negotiated by Turkey and al-Assad’s ally, Russia, was being violated.
“Moscow was unable or unwilling to achieve real results,” he said.
Russia and Iran are the most important allies of the Syrian government.
Moscow has been aiding Syrian forces with air attacks since 2015. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Abdullahi Yusuf