Divided Syria Opposition in a fix over UN talks

Syrian Opposition members met for a third day Thursday to decide whether to attend UN peace talks, with less than 24 hours before the negotiations were due to open in Geneva.

The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee — formed last month in an effort to unite Syria’s fractious Opposition — said it was waiting for answers from the United Nations before agreeing to attend the talks, which were to open on Friday in the Swiss city.

Western diplomats have piled pressure on the Opposition to take part in the negotiations, part of the biggest push yet to resolve Syria’s nearly five-year civil war.

But after two days of meeting in the Saudi capital the committee, which was formed to lead negotiations and insists it alone must represent the Opposition, had yet to agree to participate.

The committee has asked for “clarifications” after the UN issued invitations to other Opposition figures and wants assurances from the international community that it will move to end regime attacks on civilians and allow humanitarian aid.

Salem al-Meslet, a committee spokesman, said it was waiting for an answer from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the application of a Security Council resolution adopted in December that endorsed a roadmap for peace.

He said UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura had already assured the Opposition that two of the resolution’s articles — calling for immediate access for humanitarian aid and an end to attacks on civilians — were non-negotiable.

Security Council members “must take their responsiblities and commit to applying resolution 2254. We are waiting for an answer,” Mr Meslet said.

Russia said on Thursday it wanted to hold an international meeting on Syria — including key players from the West and the Middle East — in Munich next month.

Meanwhile, Iran said on it strongly opposed moves by its regional foe Saudi Arabia to allow “terrorists in a new mask” to sit down for talks between the Syrian government and the Opposition.

“Terrorists with a new mask should not sit down at a negotiating table with the representatives of the Syrian authorities,” Iranian deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a news conference during a visit to Russia. Mr Amir-Abdollahian called on Saudi Arabia to stop its actions which he said increased tension in the region.