Geneva II: Syrian government warns of early talks exit

FRIDAY 24 JANUARY 2014

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem threatens to leave peace talks in Geneva if no serious discussions have taken place by Saturday.

His warning came on the day that government and opposition delegations were due to start separate talks with the international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi at the United Nations in Geneva.

Syrian state television reported that Mr Moualem told Mr Brahimi of his intentions during an initial meeting lasting barely an hour on Friday morning. Mr Moualem was reported to have blamed the "the other side's lack of seriousness or preparedness".

While the state television broadcast said the meeting had a "postitive atmosphere", today's meeting remain a massive challenge to the diplomats charged with brokering a deal.

Opposition demands

Earlier the opposition had warned that it would not meet face to face with the Syrian government delegation unless it endorsed a communique from the Geneva I talks in 2012, which called for a transitional governing body to be established in Syria.

Opposition delegate Haitham al-Maleh said "We have explicitly demanded a written commitment from the regime delegation to accept Geneva I. Otherwise there will be no direct negotiations."

UN spokeswoman Alessandra Velluci told a news briefing in Geneva: "This process is being shaped at the moment. It has to take time for the preparations. There are no Syrian-Syrian talks at the moment."