Syria peace talks close to final declaration: UN envoy

The talks, which yielded no apparent breakthrough on Monday, could have been the first face-to-face negotiations between the regime and the armed opposition since Syria’s conflict erupted in 2011, but the rebels backed out. “We are not far from a final declaration,” UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said. “There are very intense discussions because this is not about a paper, this is about a cessation of hostilities which means Syrian lives.” 

Rebel spokesman Yehya al-Aridi said the rebels would not sign a final declaration coming out of the talks, saying it would be issued by  their sponsors, rebel backer Turkey, regime ally Russia and possibly Iran. The rebels rejected face-to-face talks because of the regime’s continued bombardment and attacks on a flashpoint outside the capital Damascus. The two sides sat at the same table for the opening statements, but spent the rest of the day negotiating via mediators. 

Rebel spokesman Osama Abu Zeid said ceasefire violations and threats of forced displacements were hindering the negotiations. A member of the rebel delegation said that the group would agree to have Russia serve as a guarantor of the current ceasefire but not Iran, another backer of President Bashar al-Assad. 

The latest diplomatic initiative to end the bloodshed in Syria comes one month after regime forces, aided by Russia and Iran, dealt a crushing blow to the rebels by retaking full control of the country’s second city Aleppo.