2 facts, 6 viewpoints to geneva II talks on Syria

 The world patiently awaits the outcome of the Geneva II peace talks between both sides of the Syrian conflict, expected to be held at Switzerland's southwestern town of Montreux in a day's time.Many a peace loving nation look to the second round of international talks with an aim to putting a stop to the catastrophe that has already affected nearly two thirds of the Syrian people, displacing them by the millions.An invitation for Iran's attendance the day before yesterday could have led to the demise of the conference, with a number of countries expressing their concerns, like the United States and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition would have called off their attendance altogether, were it not for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's last minute withdrawal of the invitation.These nations attributed their decision to Iran's refusal to accept as a pre-condition the communique of the talks' Geneva I predecessor, which calls for a political transition in Syria and the formation of a ruling authority of full executive power.Analysts view that the absence of Iran will not be in the best interests of the talks.However, despite the many views on the outcome and whether a Geneva III round will be needed, there remains two solid boundaries and six positions taken by international sides to the conflict.The first of two boundaries is building upon the Geneva I talks, last year, during which Security Council permanent member states agreed on the need for the formation of a transitional government of full authority.The second is the worst humanitarian tragedy witnessed in the Arab region since the 1948 Palestinian refugee exodus, with recorded UN statistics until the end of last year revealing a death toll of 120,000 people.It is based on these dual truths that the multi-faceted sides in the conflict have built six standpoints.On the one hand, the opposition hope the talks achieve the revolution's ambitions, that the legitimate rights of its people are met and that the regime and its bodies are held accountable for their crimes against humanity. Despite the argument that the opposition are not united in their approach to their cause, it is a matter of fact that the Syrian National Coalition have received the recognition of the UN and the Arab League as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The Syrian government, on the other hand, has taken it upon itself to carry out a smear campaign against the opposition. It is doing this by pointing out to the introduction of outside internationally-targeted Jihadist groups to the internal conflict. But in fact, it is Damascus that allowed these entities into the country in a move aimed to fuel the violence and to demonstrate to the West that it is assuming the role of 'regional defender' even if the price was the annihilation of the whole population. The regime also rejects the Geneva I communique's disallowing of the inclusion of the regime or its members of its bodies in any future ruling authority as it continues to bar the entry of international human rights fact-finding missions into the country.