No new session at Geneva-2 after Syrian gov't accuses US of 'arming terrorists'
28 January 2014, 17:42
Syria government delegation in Geneva has denounced the decision of the US Congress on the supplies of armaments to the moderate forces of the Syrian opposition, meaning the mujaheddins of the Islamic Front. Syria's warring sides will not meet again at peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, the opposition said.
According to the Suria TV channel, the delegation has stressed in in its statement that the approval of such a step during the Geneva-2 peace conference offers proof that the 'US policy has secret goals'.
'This step is none other than an attempt to undermine the process of political settlement and an encouragement of violence,' the document the excerpts from which were cited by the Syria TV channel notes. The opposition rejected outright a statement made by the government team during its mornings meetings with UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
Syria peace talks afternoon session cancelled - opposition
An afternoon session in talks to end the war in Syria was cancelled on Tuesday, the opposition delegation said, citing differences over the goal of the talks.
'(International mediator) Lakhdar Brahimi cancelled the afternoon talks to give (Ibrahim) Jaafari time to think over Geneva 1,' opposition negotiator Ahmed Jakal told Reuters, referring to the Syrian government chief negotiator.
'There is deep resistance by the regime to move the discussions onto the question of a transitional government.'
Syria opposition willing to lift siege on pro-Assad towns
The Syrian opposition is willing to lift a siege on three pro-government villages in the north of the country as part of a wider agreement to relieve besieged towns on both sides, the opposition's spokesman said on Tuesday.
Louay al-Safi told reporters at the end of a morning session of talks in Geneva that Free Syrian Army fighters are willing to relieve pressure on the Shi'ite Muslim villages of Nubl, al-Zahra and al-Foua.
But he said President Bashar al-Assad's government has not agreed to lift the siege on the rebel-held Old City of Homs, seen as crucial for the success of any deal.
'We asked the regime to lift the siege from all cities and we agreed to lift any siege by the FSA from any town and city in Syria. There are three that are surrounded by the FSA because they have been used as a launching pad from the regime to attack Aleppo,' Safi said.
Syrian government and opposition allow UN aid convoy to deliver food to Homs
The United Nations food agency is ready to deliver a month of rations to the Old City of Homs in Syria for 2,500 people as it gets a 'green light' from Syrian government and Syrian opposition, a World Food Programme (WFP) spokeswoman said. The UN hub in Homs is preparing an inter-agency aid convoy carrying food and other supplies for the besieged population in the rebel-held city, she said.
'Once all parties on the ground allow the inter-agency convoy to proceed, WFP will deliver to the Old City 500 family rations and 500 bags of wheat flour, enough for 2,500 people for one month,' WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.
International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said on Monday the Syrian government and opposition parties were still discussing how women and children could leave the Old City, but there had been no decision on allowing access for a convoy due to snipers and other problems.
Syrian gov't lays out terms for Geneva talks, opposition rejects - state media
Syria's government delegation at peace talks in Geneva presented a declaration of principles for negotiations which did not mention a transition of power and was rejected by the opposition, Syrian television said on Monday.
The 'declaration of basic principles' said Syrians would choose a political system without 'imposed formulas' from abroad, an apparent reference to Western and regional demands that President Bashar al-Assad step down and hand power to a transitional government.
A source close to the government delegation told AFP the opposition had rejected discussion of anything other than the creation of a transitional government.
'The government delegation presented a statement on essential principles to save Syria, the State and its people from extremist terrorism,' the source said.
'As soon as it finished the Coalition rejected this statement and demanded that we talk only of a transitional body. Mr Brahimi then adjourned the session,' the source said.
Voice of Russia, TASS, Reuters
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