STORY SUMMARY
By Tom Miles
eign Minister Faisal Meqdad (L) and Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi arrive to speak to the press before a meeting at the ”Geneva II” peace talks in Geneva on January 25, 2014. AFP PHOTO/PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Syria’s civil war foes held their first face-to-face meeting on Saturday at the start of talks to end nearly three years of conflict which has killed 130,000 people and destabilised the wider Middle East.
The two parties entered and left the room through separate doors, sitting in silence for half an hour while Brahimi set out his plans — an immediate focus on humanitarian aid which diplomats have described as a confidence-building measure, followed by political talks to resolve the conflict.
President Bashar Assad’s government delegation said it broadly accepted Geneva 1, but reiterated its longstanding opposition to idea of a transitional body, saying it was inappropriate and unnecessary.
The opposition has insisted that the government delegation accept the principle of setting up the transitional body, saying it must bring an end to Assad’s rule.
Syria’s civil war has made half of the 22 million population dependent on aid, including hundreds of thousands cut off by fighting.
Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-25/245263-syria-warring-sides-meet-in-same-room-in-geneva-source.ashx#ixzz2rUYr55QA
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Switzerland, Syria