Syria’s main opposition bloc has threatened to withdraw from talks held in Geneva, if what they called the crimes of Bashar al-Assad’s government persisted. Higher Negotiations Committee (HNC) representatives landed in Geneva late yesterday, a day after a delegation for Assad’s government arrived and held preliminary talks with UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.
Speaking in Geneva, HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet said that we want the peace talks to work, but there is no seriousness on the part of the regime. He added that the HNC would discuss its demands with de Mistura today, including lifting the siege on opposition-held areas, stopping the shelling and releasing detainees.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted by Russian Interfax news agency as saying that no direct talks were expected in Geneva, only proxy talks. Gatilov said there were no preconditions for the negotiations.