Syria peace talks on verge of collapse before they begin

[dipsydoodle]

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2014, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Syria's first peace talks were on the verge of collapsing on Friday before they began, with the opposition refusing to meet President Bashar al-Assad's delegation and the government threatening to bring its team home.

The opposition said it would not meet Assad's delegation unless it first agreed to sign up to a protocol calling for a transitional administration. The government rejected the demand outright and said its negotiators would return home unless serious talks began within a day.

"If no serious work sessions are held by (Saturday), the official Syrian delegation will leave Geneva due to the other side's lack of seriousness or preparedness," Syrian state television quoted Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem as saying.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/24/uk-syria-crisis-idUKBREA0J0SX20140124

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The Syrian government delegation has threatened to quit peace talks in Geneva if "serious" discussions do not begin by Saturday.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem issued the threat on Syrian state media after his team held talks with UN negotiator Lakhdar Brahimi.

Mr Brahimi is due to meet the Syrian opposition separately later on Friday.

Correspondents say the talks have been troubled from the start, as both sides have deeply entrenched positions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25880727

[cosmicone]

1. The terrorists are a bunch of violent and whiny people

bent on nothing short of assassinating Assad and imposing Sharia law.

Assad is going to win in the end and the handwriting is on the wall.

[pampango]

2. The problem is that 'the terrorists' include Assad.

His regime has tortured and killed many more than the opposition has. If torture and killing on a large scale does not make one a terrorist, I am not sure what does.

I do agree that Assad is probably going to win in the end. He has always had massive military advantages. I am surprised (as I am sure he is) that his military with its tanks and planes has not been able to win this long before not.

[cosmicone]

4. We have not actually observed any torture and killing by Assad

whatever info we have is from parties with an axe to grind.

I don't think he is staying in power simply because of the military. A majority of the people probably want him in power because they don't want an extremist muslim/jihad/sharia banana republic. Without the support of the silent majority, he wouldn't be able to stay in power.

It doesn't help our objectivity by demonizing at the get go.

[pampango]

5. It is true that dictators normally due their torturing and killing in prison cells out of our view.

If that give them plausible dependability in your view, you are welcome to your opinion. Every human rights organization has determined that Assad and his father have run a very brutal regime. Again you can question the honesty of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch if that makes you feel better. If you have to see the torture to believe it exists, there is going go be a whole lot of torture in the world.

A majority of the people probably want him in power ...

You might be right, but Assad has not proven to be a fan of free and fair elections so it is impossible to know if he would win. Obviously, as with most dictators, he probably suspects that his popularity might not prevail in an election so he dispenses with them.

Without the support of the silent majority, he wouldn't be able to stay in power.

I think that the assumption that every dictator has the support of a silent majority or "he wouldn't be able to stay in power" is a little naive. That would imply that every dictator is actually quite popular with a majority of his people or they would rise up against his army and secret police and depose him.

It doesn't help our objectivity by demonizing at the get go.

Wise words. I suppose that portraying anyone who opposes Assad as being as supporting "an extremist muslim/jihad/sharia banana republic" could be considered demonizing as well.

[Igel]

3. Preconditions are always a nice way to start negotiations.

"Let's try to achieve peace. As a precondition, please lay down all your weapons and report to the following detention centers for trial and execution."

Then again, the meeting started off badly with a set of attacks, insults and demands.