The Daily Star Lebanon

Delaying tactics

In terms of progress and substance, Geneva IV may as well be Geneva I, II or III, and unless the Syrian regime changes its attitude, Geneva V, VI and VII will be even worse. It has become very clear that the regime’s participation in conferences called in the name of finding peace – whether they be in Geneva, Astana, Moscow or Pluto – are simply part of its strategy of securing gains through procrastination. Neither these gains nor this game of wait-andsee would be possible without the help of Moscow and Tehran, and the Russians in particular are guilty of assisting this diplomatic sleight of hand.