PHOTO: UN envoy Staffan de Mistura: “March 10 when we will launch the process”
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- Reports: 12 Civilians Killed by Shelling on Kurdish Area of Aleppo
- Turkey Closes Bab al-Hawa Crossing “Until Further Notice”
- “Great Leaders”: Putin Joins Assad on Poster in Latakia
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has again rescheduled the next political talks over Syria’s five-year conflict, saying they may — but not “will” — resume on Thursday.
De Mistura had initially set Monday for the resumption of an attempt at negotiations between the Assad regime and the opposition-rebel High Negotiations Committee. However, with continuing doubts over whether either side is willing to talk, De Mistura pushed the target back to Wednesday.
Yesterday he set the timetable back another 24 hours, “I see us beginning on March 10 when we will launch the process,” de Mistura said in an interview with the pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat.
The pro-Assad Lebanese TV channel, al-Mayadeen, said from “sources” that the talks had been moved to March 13.
And de Mistura added the unusual note that his “March 10” target was a bit misleading, citing the issue of accommodation: “Some will arrive on the ninth. Others, because of difficulties with hotel reservations, will arrive on the 11th. Others will arrive on the 14th.”
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State, in a phone conversation, called on both sides “to start the negotiations as soon as possible”, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The opposition-rebel HNC has insisted that ceasefires must be implemented and aid must reach besieged areas before talks can resume.
However, Syrian forces have continued to attack in parts of the country despite the April 28 “cessation of hostilities”, and the Assad regime has stalled on approval of most UN requests for delivery of aid.
On Friday, HNC coordinator Riad Hijab warned that the ceasefire was on the verge of collapse because of regime and Russian attacks across five Syrian provinces.
De Mistura expressed concern on Saturday, “Lorries are waiting for 36 hours. And medical aid must be allowed.”
President Assad initially rejected negotiations before a total defeat of “terrorism”, but relented under pressure from Moscow.
Saudi: “Assad Must Go”
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir repeated on Saturday that President Assad must leave power for a resolution.
During a visit to France, Jubeir said, “For us it is very clear [Assad’s departure] is at the beginning of the process, not at the end of the process, it’s not going to be 18 months.”
In a joint communique, Saudi Arabia and France “stressed the need for a credible political solution to the Syrian crisis as the only way to permanently restore peace and fight terrorism”.
Reports: 12 Civilians Killed by Shelling on Kurdish Area of Aleppo
Both Kurdish and opposition outlets say 12 civilians were killed on Sunday by shelling of a mainly-Kurdish district in Aleppo city.
The attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud came amid ongoing clashes between the Kurdish militia YPG and rebel forces.
It is unclear whether the shells were fired by rebels, by the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra, or even by regime forces.
Last month, the YPG seized rebel-held territory in northern Aleppo Province, as rebels were pressed by a foreign-led regime offensive enabled by Russian bombing.
Turkey Closes Bab al-Hawa Crossing “Until Further Notice”
Turkey has closed the Bab al-Hawa crossing, the only border post with Idlib Province in northwest Syria, “until further notice”.
No explanation was given for Friday’s halt in travel and trade, except for humanitarian emergencies and Syrians returning to Idlib from Turkey.
On Friday night, Turkish border guards shot nine Syrian civilians attempting to cross the border, killing one and injuring the others, according to a Syrian border official.
The Syrian official said that Turkish authorities stopped issuing identity cards to Syrians lat month: “There has also been an uptick in patrols on the border, and any individual caught having entered illegally is expelled. A lot of Syrians have been deported.”
Activists have said that up to 300 Syrians a day who crossed the border have been deported.
“Great Leaders”: Putin Joins Assad on Poster in Latakia
A sign at the airport in Latakia in western Syria hails Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “Great Leaders”:
Russia established its main base at the Hmeimim Airport in Latakia as it began bombing and support for ground operations last September.
