UN-Arab League Envoy Apologizes To Syrian People over Stalemate in Peace Talks
New York, Feb 15 2014 - Calling an end to the latest round of United Nations-backed talks in Geneva on Syria's civil
war, Lakhdar Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people on Saturday for the lack of progress on halting the bloodshed in
their country, and urged Government and opposition negotiators to go back to their bases and reflect on their
responsibility and "on whether they want this process to continue or not."
"I am very, very sorry, and I apologize to the Syrian people that…we haven't helped them very much," said Mr. Brahimi,
the United Nations/Arab League Joint Special Representative, telling a press conference that while no date was set to
resume the talks, he presented both sides with an agenda for the next round, "so that we don't lose another week or 10
days as we have this time."
This is the second round of UN-sponsored direct talks between Government and opposition representatives -- the first set
of discussions took place in late January -- to end a war which has killed well over 100,000 people and driven nearly 9
million others from their homes since the conflict erupted between President Bashar al-Assad and various groups seeking
his ouster nearly three years ago.
"People are dying, the country is being destroyed. If this track aims at helping the Syrian people, then of course, the
faster we achieve tangible results, the better," Mr. Brahimi said in response to a question, but added he has made it
clear that "everybody needs to go back to their base and we will contact each other to determine the date [of the next
round of discussions].
The talks have so far only yielded modest cooperation between the sides on allowing UN and Syrian Red Crescent relief
workers access to thousands of people trapped in the long-besieged Old City of Homs, and Mr. Brahimi said today he felt
"the little that has been achieved in Homs gave [the Syrian people] even more hope that maybe this is the beginning of
the coming out of this horrible crisis -- I apologize to them."
As for next steps, Mr. Brahimi said the parties agreed to his proposal that a third round of talks should focus on
violence and terrorism, a transitional governing body, national institutions and national reconciliation. But he
acknowledged that the main sticking point persisted: the Government side considers that the most important issue to be
combatting terrorism; the opposition considers that the most important issue is forming a transitional governing
authority.
"We suggested that the first day will be set for discussion on…ending violence and combating terrorism and the second
day would be reserved for a discussion on the TGB [transitional governing body]," he explained, but while he had made
clear that one day would not give enough time to conclude discussions on either issue, "unfortunately, the Government
has refused [this approach], which raises the suspicion of the opposition that in fact the Government doesn't' want to
discuss the TGB at all."
"I very, very much hope that the two sides will reflect and think a little bit better and come back ready to engage
seriously on how to implement the Geneva Communiqué," he said, referring to the 2012 action plan adopted at the first
international meeting in Switzerland on the conflict and the full implementations of which is the basis of the current
talks. "The Communiqué helps the two sides, and us sitting between them, to start the long road towards ending this
crisis."
Of the fact that the two sides remain at odds over how to tackle his four-point proposal, Mr. Brahimi underscored that
while they had "at least" agreed on an agenda: "It is not good for Syria that we come back for another round and fall in
the same trap that we have been struggling with this week and most of the first round."
"I think it is better that every side goes back and reflect and take their responsibility: do they want this process to
take place or not? I will do the same," he said, adding that will head to New York to meet with UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon, as well as United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the
initiators of the Geneva talks.
He also plans to brief the other permanent five members of the Security Council -- China, France and the United Kingdom
-- as well as the body's 10 non-permanent members.
"So I hope that this time of reflection will lead the Government side in particular to reassure the [opposition] that
when they speak of implementing the Geneva Communiqué they do mean that a TGB exercising full executive powers will be
the main objective to follow," said Mr. Brahimi, adding that ending violence and combating terrorism "is extremely
important, indispensable."
Asked if he had a specific message for President Assad as the talks wrapped up, Mr. Brahimi said: "My message to
everybody involved in this terrible crisis is to think of the Syrian people, to think of the immense suffering that has
been imposed on [them], the destruction that has taken place in Syria, and to think of what anyone can contribute to
pull Syria out of the ditch in which it has fallen."
To a question about the ongoing commitment of Russia and the US, he said he continued to believe the two countries are
important partners with the United Nations. "There is no doubt - and I have said repeatedly- that the United Nations,
the Russian Federation and the United States; none of them can turn a blind eye to this huge crisis in Syria."
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
ENDS