Syria Opposition Groups Agree on Government Talks

Among those participating in the meetings in Riyadh are hardline Saudi-backed groups such as Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, who had long rejected any negotiations with Assad’s government while he remained in power.

The conference is also discussing behind closed doors the formation of a unified delegation to represent the opposition at the negotiations planned for January 2016, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Over 100 representatives of opposition and rebel groups attended a two-day conference in the Saudi capital.

“We welcome the positive outcome… including reaching a consensus on principles for a pluralistic and democratic Syria and on how to advance a political settlement”, said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

His remarks coincided with an announcement on Thursday by Syria’s main political and armed opposition factions gathered in Saudi Arabia, in which they expressed their support for the launching of UN-mediated peace talks with representatives of Assad’s government.

“We have to start with stopping the flow, and at the same time fighting terrorism from within Syria by the Syrian army and by whoever wants to support the Syrian army”, Assad said. Almost five years of conflict in Syria have drawn in a range of regional and worldwide powers, with the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others backing the opposition, while Russian Federation and Iran have stood firmly behind Assad.

Moscow also took issue with the exclusion of Kurdish factions from the Saudi talks and the absence of the so-called “patriotic Syrian opposition” tolerated by the Damascus regime.

Separately, a listing of names the factions drew up in Riyadh showed armed rebel groups would compose the largest single group in a combined Syrian opposition body that would oversee talks with Assad’s government.

The meeting came after two rounds of global talks on the conflict in Syria in Vienna on October 30 and November 14.

Although there was agreement on a framework for negotiation, the withdrawal of Ahrar al-Sham, whose founders are linked to al-Qaida, underscored the difficulties that lie ahead as groups with competing ideologies try to forge a common vision for the future.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir made clear that the Saudi monarchy is also continuing to demand Assad’s immediate removal.

Syria’s government condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly terrorist explosion”. He expressed confidence that his military situation was improving, thanks to help from Russian Federation and Iran, but said the price of his victories was “very high”. The group still must pick its representatives for a negotiating team.

These would include abolishing death sentences handed to Syrian political dissidents, the release of detainees, lifting sieges across Syria, giving access to humanitarian aid convoys, allowing refugees to return to their homes, stopping forced displacement and putting an immediate end to the bombardment of civilian populations with barrel bombs and other weapons.

If the Kremlin can hold onto this strategic asset and maintain its influence in a post-Assad era, Mr Putin will find it much easier to join the more focussed and internationally agreed fight against so called Islamic State.