Key players in the diplomatic push to end the Syrian war were to meet yesterday seeking common ground over a political transition, ahead of Iran’s first-time appearance at international talks on the conflict.
Top diplomats from Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were to hold the second round of talks on Syria in less than a week, ahead of the larger meeting of regional players, including Iran, today.
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Javad Zarif are to join representatives from Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon and the EU as the international community seeks to end more than four years of bloodshed.
The inclusion of Iran — a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — in this week’s meetings marks a crucial shift after Tehran was excluded from earlier talks, mainly because of opposition from Washington and Riyadh.
It will be the first time all the major players in the conflict are in the same room, though there has been no mention of either the Syrian government or the opposition attending.
A Syrian opposition politician and a rebel leader said that the main political opposition body and representatives of the armed opposition have not been invited to the talks.
The Syrian opposition has objected to Iran’s participation in the talks because of its military support for al-Assad.
George Sabra, a member of the Syrian National Coalition, said the failure to invite Syrians showed a “lack of seriousness.”
Asked whether the coalition had been invited to the talks, he said: “That didn’t happen.”
“It is a big weak point in the meeting, because it will discuss the issues of the Syrians in their absence,” he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that this week’s talks would not secure an immediate political solution, but nevertheless represented the best hope available.
“While finding a way forward on Syria will not be easy — it’s not going to be automatic — it is the most promising opportunity for a political opening we have seen,” Kerry said just before he set off for Vienna.
“The challenge that we face in Syria today is nothing less than to chart a course out of hell,” he added.
Britain’s Foreign Office said the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan are to attend today’s meeting.
Washington is at loggerheads with Moscow over Syria, accusing Russian forces of concentrating their air campaign there on moderate opposition groups opposed to al-Assad’s rule.
Moscow says its bombing campaign is targeting Islamic State militants and also other “terrorist” groups.
However, Kerry stressed that the US and Russia also shared “common ground,” adding that both want “a united, secular Syria” in which citizens can choose their own leader through elections.
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