Issues need to be cleared before Syria conference

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday said although "active consultations" are still going on between the UN, US and Russia to convene the proposed International Conference on Syria (Geneva II), many issues need to be thrashed out. "While active discussions are going on, there are still many elements which we have to clear," he told reporters in response to questions, following a briefing to the Security Council on his trip to Africa last week. "We have yet to find out, agree on a mutually agreeable and convenient date for a meeting. And also we have to see how the opposition groups are discussing their unity issues. We expect that the opposition groups will come in a coherent and unified manner, as a single representation... Who should participate in this meeting," Ban explained. "Therefore, I am not in a position at this time to tell you exactly when this (Conference) will take place. But we are all committed to convene this meeting as soon as possible. Russia and the United States have asked me to convene this meeting and send an invitation, but before an invitation is issued, we have to clarify all the elements," he argued. The goal of the Conference is to establish a transitional governing body with full executive authority on the basis of mutual consent between the two parties - Government and opposition. The problem is whether Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad will play a role in it or not. According to Russia, he has to. The US and Western countries are vehemently opposed. Ban expressed grave concern that Hezbollah and many actors are now involved in the Syria conflict. "My strong message is that fighting must stop immediately, so that the political process can begin. That's the best way at this time." Asked to comment on the European Union's decision earlier this week to lift the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition, Ban said "my position on this issue has been clear and consistent: I had been urging all the parties who have influence on both sides, they should urge both sides to stop fighting. There is no strategy of arms in both sides. Just providing arms to either side will not help this process. There is no such military solution in this case. I think only a political process can resolve this issue in a sustainable way."