Brahimi: Syrian opposition must be at Geneva II talks

UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Friday said he considered the participation of the Syrian opposition in the planned Geneva-II conference as crucial, basic and significant. Speaking at a news conference, the international-Arab trouble-shooter said the upcoming convention would "signal the start of resolving the crisis in Syria," noting that the Damascus regime did not take part in the first Geneva conference, held in June 2012. The Syrian Government was not represented at the Geneva I conference and at the Geneva II meeting, there must a delegation of the opposition, he said, stressing the necessity of the participation of the two sides in the reconciliation talks, aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis that has caused heavy human and material losses. The international community is concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Syria, he said, indicating that a third of the estimated 20 million population of the country have been affected by the plight. He warned that half of the Syrian people would eventually suffer from the crisis if it continues without a settlement. Delving further into this issue, Brahimi called on the Syrian Government, the opposition and international organizations to cooperate to secure the delivery of aid to Syrians, stranded at the hot spots on the arena. The solution in Syria must be political, not military, he added, in a clear call on each of the warring parties to abstain from aspiring to seek to defeat the other militarily. While politicians have been seeking avenues for a diplomatic settlement to the crisis, fighting has continued at various axes across the Syrian territories between government forces and opposition groups. Moreover, Brahimi confirmed that he would meet US and Russian officials to prepare for the conference and try to set a final date for the second conference in Geneva. The conference has been tentatively set later this month, however, there has been much controversial talk about the parties that should represent the opposition and sit at the negotiating table. Brahimi has been travelling throughout the Middle East to drum up support for the peace talks on visits to Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Oman.