UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said on Friday the proposed "Geneva
II" peace conference to end Syria's civil war could not be held without
the opposition. "If the opposition does not participate there will be
no Geneva conference," Brahimi said in Damascus before returning to
Beirut as part of a regional tour to garner support for the US-Russian
peace initiative.
"The participation of the opposition is essential, necessary and
important," the veteran Algerian diplomat said, adding the proposed
conference was intended "to help the Syrians and resolve their
problems". Brahimi, who met with President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday,
said "the Syrian government has agreed to participate in Geneva". "The
opposition, whether the National Coalition
or others, are trying to find a way to be represented," he said, referring to the main opposition bloc.
Brahimi also said he hoped the conference would be
held "in the coming weeks, not next year.
"I will return to Geneva on Tuesday, where I will meet the Russian and US delegations, and representatives of other countries might join us, in a bid to prepare the conference and to agree on a definitive date, which will be announced in the coming days." The renewed bid for peace talks aimed at resolving the two and a half-year conflict comes after last month's US-Russian accord on dismantling Syria's chemical arsenal.
Syria's opposition has thus far baulked, with the National Coalition saying it will not take part if Assad's resignation is not on the table, a demand his government rejects.
Some Islamist brigades have warned any Syrians taking part in the talks would be viewed as traitors.
The Coalition, which is under pressure from its Western and Arab backers
to attend Geneva II, is to meet on November 9 to decide on the talks.
In his remarks on Friday, Brahimi also called on the international community to help Syria and its parties to allow assistance through to besieged areas like Moadamiyet al-Sham.
"Children have not had any bread for nine months" in the rebel-held town southwest of Damascus, he said.
According to the envoy, "a third of Syria's inhabitants are directly affected" by the war, which has claimed an estimated 120,000 lives and forced millions to flee their homes.
Brahimi also raised the issue of the large number of prisoners in both regime and rebel hands. "These practices are unacceptable," he said.
Later in an interview with Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi lashed out at Brahimi.
"Brahimi said the Geneva conference was for the Syrians, not for the states. If that is the case, why is he on his tour? Why invite states such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which are participating in the aggression against Syria?" he asked.
Zohbi also accused Brahimi of being overly diplomatic.
"He speaks in many tongues as though he wanted to satisfy everyone, to the detriment of the Syrians' reality. When he speaks in Syria, he uses a certain logic. And when he leaves our country, he resorts to another."
or others, are trying to find a way to be represented," he said, referring to the main opposition bloc.
Brahimi also said he hoped the conference would be
held "in the coming weeks, not next year.
"I will return to Geneva on Tuesday, where I will meet the Russian and US delegations, and representatives of other countries might join us, in a bid to prepare the conference and to agree on a definitive date, which will be announced in the coming days." The renewed bid for peace talks aimed at resolving the two and a half-year conflict comes after last month's US-Russian accord on dismantling Syria's chemical arsenal.
Syria's opposition has thus far baulked, with the National Coalition saying it will not take part if Assad's resignation is not on the table, a demand his government rejects.
Some Islamist brigades have warned any Syrians taking part in the talks would be viewed as traitors.
The Coalition, which is under pressure from its Western and Arab backers
to attend Geneva II, is to meet on November 9 to decide on the talks.
In his remarks on Friday, Brahimi also called on the international community to help Syria and its parties to allow assistance through to besieged areas like Moadamiyet al-Sham.
"Children have not had any bread for nine months" in the rebel-held town southwest of Damascus, he said.
According to the envoy, "a third of Syria's inhabitants are directly affected" by the war, which has claimed an estimated 120,000 lives and forced millions to flee their homes.
Brahimi also raised the issue of the large number of prisoners in both regime and rebel hands. "These practices are unacceptable," he said.
Later in an interview with Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi lashed out at Brahimi.
"Brahimi said the Geneva conference was for the Syrians, not for the states. If that is the case, why is he on his tour? Why invite states such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which are participating in the aggression against Syria?" he asked.
Zohbi also accused Brahimi of being overly diplomatic.
"He speaks in many tongues as though he wanted to satisfy everyone, to the detriment of the Syrians' reality. When he speaks in Syria, he uses a certain logic. And when he leaves our country, he resorts to another."
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