Syria’s opposition seeks direct talks with regime

Moscow tells Damascus to halt bombings as rivals gather for Geneva deliberations

Syria’s main opposition group said yesterday it wanted face-to-face discussions with government representatives, a day before the start of a new round of peace talks in Geneva.

“We ask for direct negotiations... It would save time and be proof of seriousness instead of negotiating in [separate] rooms,” Salem Al Meslet, spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) umbrella group, said.

During three previous rounds of talks in Geneva last year, the two sides never sat down at the same table, instead leaving UN mediator Staffan de Mistura to shuttle between them

De Mistura, meanwhile, said Russia has asked the Syrian regime to halt bombings during peace talks, though a peace breakthrough seems unlikely.

“Russia announced to everyone that they have formally asked the Syrian government to silence their own skies during the talks,” de Mistura told reporters at a meeting of the UN-backed ceasefire taskforce.

But the veteran diplomat signalled that limited progress was likely and “momentum” towards a deal was probably the most that could be hoped for when delegations resume talks today.

The ground — both in territory and diplomatically — has shifted since the last round of talks broke up in April 2016, and the rebels are in a significantly weaker position. Bashar Al Assad’s delegation and an opposition team are in the Swiss city for resumption of talks, after a 10-month hiatus.