Syria hopes for US backing in talks

United Nations – Syria’s opposition is hoping to persuade the United States administration to throw its weight behind UN-led peace talks and counter Russia’s bid to set up a parallel track.

After meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, opposition leaders headed to Washington on Tuesday for meetings to shore up the Geneva talks, which are expected to resume on January 21.

“All of us, all of our countries are waiting for an American role” in finding a settlement to the nearly seven-year war, said Nasr Hariri.

The United States is “the most important player in the Syrian fight, the only state that can make a balance with the Russian influence”, he said.

The delegation led by Hariri hopes to meet with US National Security Advisor HR McMaster, State Department officials and members of Congress to make their case for US engagement.

The opposition’s appeal to the US administration comes as Russia is asking the United Nations to take part in a peace congress it is hosting along with Iran in Sochi on January 29 and 30.

Western countries view the Sochi peace talks with scepticism, concerned that Russia and Iran will carve out a settlement that will favour their ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hariri said he was told by Guterres that no decision had been made yet on whether the United Nations would take part in the Sochi conference.