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The second round of talks in Russia between an Assad regime delegation and selected members of Syria’s opposition concluded on Thursday, issuing a statement “estimating the status quo”.

The regime group was led by the Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari (pictured). The opposition was relatively low-level — the Assad regime has refused to meet any organizations, only individual members — but did include five people from the domestic National Coordinating Committee for Democratic Change.

Claiming a basis in the Geneva communiqué of June 2012, the statement said any process for political resolution must rely on “preserving national sovereignty”, “keeping the state institutions”, and “committing to liberating the occupied Syrian lands”. The agreement must boost “national reconciliation”, support armed forces against “terrorism” — including the withdrawal of international backing of rebels and opposition — and work with the international community to help Syrian refugees return home.

Unsurprisingly, the statement made no reference to the Geneva communiqué’s implication that President Assad would relinquish power in the process for a transitional government.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Jafari reinforced the impression of little progress, turning on those who attended the talks. He said that “an agreement about the second and third items was likely had it not been for the opposition’s attempts to buy time”.

He specifically accused participants of publicly denying their signature of agreements because they wanted to play their dirty media tricks”.

Opposition Coalition Calls for No-Fly Zone for “Liberated” Idlib

The opposition Syrian National Coalition has called for a no-fly zone to protect people in the provincial capital of Idlib, captured by rebels two weeks ago.

Activists estimate that more than 200 people have been killed by regime airstrikes since Assad forces were forced out of the city in northwest Syria.

The Coalition’s Political Committee also discussed plans to ensure the safety of civilians, to restore basic services, and provide relief aid to residents. The city is currently administered by a civilian committee and court set up by rebel factions after their victory.

Rebel Leader Alloush Declares Progress Near Damascus Despite Regime Siege

Zahran Alloush, a leader in both the Jaish al-Islam faction and the Islamic Front bloc, has put out a defiant statement declaring progress near Damascus despite the siege and aerial attacks of the Assad regime.

Covering a range of topics in a press conference, Alloush pointed to a unified military commander with civilian elements in the East Ghouta area near the capital. He warned of a renewal of rebel attacks with rockets on Damascus if Syrian airstrikes continued on insurgent-held suburbs like Douma.

Alloush also spoke of the challenge of the Islamic State and corruption among local groups, saying that 95% of the campaign had been accomplished but that individual cases of corruption remained.

Palestine Liberation Organization Rejects Ground Offensive on Yarmouk in Damascus

The Palestine Liberation Organization has rejected Assad regime overtures for a ground offensive into the embattled southern Damascus area of Yarmouk.

The Islamic State moved into Yarmouk, home to about 15,000 Palestinians, on April 1 and occupies much of the camp. It continues to fight local Palestinian groups and rebels for control.

The Assad regime — accused of bombing and shelling the local groups and rebels, rather than the jihadists — began discussions with PLO representatives on Tuesday for ground operations to confront “militants and terrorists”. A PLO emissary to Damascus, Ahmad Majdalani, said on Thursday that Palestinian groups were ready to join forces with the Syrian military to expel Islamic State fighters from Yarmouk.

However, the PLO later called for non-military means to “spare the blood of our people”: “We refuse to be drawn into any armed campaign.”

See Syria Daily, April 9: Assad Regime — We May Launch Ground Offensive on Yarmouk in Southern Damascus