Geneva II on Syrian cricis wraps up first day

Geneva II conference on Syrian crisis wrapped up its first of two days with the participation of some 40 countries under the auspices of the United Nations. In a press conference following the session, Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations said all participants have underscored the importance of ending the conflict in Syria and reaching a political solution, noting that the last three years have passed on Syrian people with the utmost intolerable sufferings and chemical weapons attacks. Time has come for them to breathe comfort and that the opposition and government go together to the negotiation table, he added. He said "just to meet together today here in Montreux is itself a historic achievement", reiterating his determination that the two sides find a way for peace and avail themselves of this fragile chance. He said real negotiations will start in the city of Geneva on 24th of current January under the patronage of Lakhdar Ibrahimi in a process that would respect the sovereignty, unity and regional integrity of Syria provided that the basic principle for negotiation is the implementation of Geneva I conference declaration which targeted the formation of a transitional government that preserves the state's institutions, reforms them and respects human rights and starts a national dialogue, holds elections, and lay the foundation for the power of law and assist Syrians to overcome the current humanitarian calamity. He called on the Syrian government to take measures for confidence building, cease fire, release prisoners and relieve the Syrian people. He said Syria was once a prosperous place to the pride of its people. But today, we see its people fighting each other. He said he has once urged President Assad to listen to the complaints of his people and solve their problems in a conciliatory spirit but this conciliatory spirit is lacking. Within three years of fighting, many killed, many fled the scene, Syria's infrastructure damaged to create a proper environment for foreign and terror elements to take part in the struggle. We see opposition forces fighting opposition forces. So, there is no way but to establish a transitional government with full power and under the chairmanship of a far-sighted personality which leaves no place for terrorists. This will happen only when Syrian people unite. For his part, Ibrahimi said he would hold a meeting tomorrow with the two Syrian delegations to discuss whether the negotiations would take place in two separate meeting rooms or one, and draw a road map. He described the process as tough but "we are going to spare no effort to make it a success", noting that at least the two delegations came to this city and sat in one room.