Why Syrian Peace Talks Might Collapse Before They Even Begin
Mother Jones
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While politicians around the world are focused on ISIS and the threat of Syrian-based terrorism, the fight between the government of Bashar al-Assad and Syria’s rebel groups has continued apace, killing thousands of civilians and drawing major powers further into the fight. But despite the high cost of the civil war, it’s been two years since the two sides last negotiated—and the latest attempt at brokering a peace deal could potentially collapse before it even starts.
Talks mediated by the United Nation’s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, are due to begin between the Syrian government and opposition on Friday in Geneva, but the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee, composed of dissident politicians and rebel leaders, still hasn’t confirmed that it will attend. The Syrian government must stop starving civilians, using barrel bombs, and committing other human rights violations before negotiations start, the HNC says. They argue their conditions are backed by a UN Security Council resolution, passed in December, which “demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilians and civilian objects as such, including attacks against medical facilities and personnel, and any indiscriminate use of weapons.”
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Why Syrian Peace Talks Might Collapse Before They Even Begin
