Syrian opposition refuses to discuss terrorism at UN talks

GENEVA: Syria’s main opposition group said Wednesday that terrorism cannot be added to the agenda of sputtering UNsponsored peace talks in Geneva, as sought by Damascus.

The High Negotiating Committee ( HNC) announced the refusal after an unprecedented meeting with a Russian minister, whose country is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad.

“We will not deal with it, and if ( UN mediator Staffan de Mistura) adds it in any time we will not deal with it or discuss it,” HNC delegation chief Yehya Kodmani told reporters.

The issue has overshadowed the Geneva talks, in particular after a suicide assault in Syria’s third-largest city of Homs last weekend which killed dozens of people.

On Tuesday Russia called for terrorism to be added to the agenda of the talks, which have until now focused on three “baskets”, or areas for discussion: governance, constitution and elections.

According to Syria’s Sana news agency, citing sources close to the regime, UN envoy de Mistura has agreed that the talks broach four areas: the three previously agreed plus terrorism.

The veteran UN mediator, arriving at the same Geneva hotel as Kodmani a short time later, declined to comment, saying he would speak at the end of the current round of talks.

Russian deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was cautious after Wednesday’s meeting with the HNC delegation.

“This was a sound meeting, constructive discussion about the Syrian negotiation round.

There is a common understanding that we must move toward political regulation of the Syrian crisis,” he said, quoted by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

“What is new about these Geneva talks is that the sides agreed with the suggestion of de Mistura to discuss all issues in a parallel mode, so that there are several tracks.” — AFP