Change of strategy at the Geneva peace conference?

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Syria Conflict

Change of strategy at the Geneva peace conference?

In Geneva meet representatives of the Syrian warring parties.The attacks of IS meant that the interests of the Syrian Opposition and Western countries ever further apart.

In a were all the participants of today’s beginning of the Geneva peace talks agreed: The terrorist groups “Islamic state” (IS) and “Nusra Front” have at the negotiating table is nothing to seek. Even more: The security Council of the United Nations, in its in December adopted Resolution 2254 all conference participants, terrorist acts, in particular, of these two groups “to prevent and stop them.”

On Sunday showed the IS by a bloody attack on the district of Sayyida-Zaynab Shrine in Damascus, how easily the calls of the UN security Council has run into the Empty can. And the conference itself called the IS by the dastardly attack on the Shiite Shrine, with over 50 dead in remembrance, that while he is not sitting at the negotiating table, but still expect him.

Terror is conference the direction of

But above all, expected the attack to contribute to the conference
from the beginning
in a certain direction to push. For now, are likely at least some of the participants, especially Russia, Syria and the United States, even more on the jihadists as the main opponent to focus – with the result that the Assad Regime is in the Background. For the Syrian Opposition, however, is Assad’s most important opponent. The interests of both groups running obvious growing further and further apart.

Just had this for the representative of the High Verhandlungskomitees (HNC) – it represents the most important group of the (moderate) Syrian Opposition – from the beginning feared. That is also why they had in the run-up to the conference on preconditions existed. Above all, they pushed the fact that the Assad Regime from the siege of several Syrian towns ablasse and also no attacks on the civilian population more lead. Staffano de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, had the Opposition on Sunday assured, for these claims.

Häuserzug in the Syrian town of Maaret al-Numan after an air RAID. These were eyewitnesses to that of Russian fighter jets flew

“Americans are soft against the Russians back”

At the same time, had the HNC the Russian attacks sharply criticized. Alone on Sunday were, according to press reports, over 100 Syrian civilians by Russian aircraft and Raketenattacken been killed. In General, in the past week very many Syrian civilians died.

The stop IS in Damascus could contribute now that the conference is less on the Russian attacks on the the IS focused. This is also because the United States in the past few months, the jihadists as the biggest risk is defined and, unlike in the first years of the Syrian war, not the Assad Regime.

“US Secretary of state Kerry has no promise made, and new initiatives presented,” criticized Khaled Khoja, President of the opposition “Syrian coalition”. “For a long time, he sends embassies, which Iran and Russia are similar.”

Particularly troubling for many is the Syrian opposition that Russia, through its rigorous approach is always more influence in Syria .. “The Americans are soft against the Russians back,” concludes the newspaper “Al-Araby al-jadeed” the Situation. “This is for many Syrians to be so dramatic, because neither Russia nor the Assad Regime to your opponent over as a very peaceful show.”

Protest against the international Syria-politics in front of the conference building

Growing political differences

The international actors, on the other hand, the Regime only as an indirect threat. For you are above all the terrorist groups, especially the IS, is dangerous. He could Europe, Russia and the United States with further attacks surfacing. For representative, the fight against the jihadists in the foreground.

It seems to sprout the strategic differences also political. The consequence of this is that the relationship between moderate Syrians and their long very behavior-reacting – Western allies, further cooling it. “The war, the
Mass immigration to Europe
and an extremist group that is still more brutal than Al-Qaeda is all this boils down to the fact that many American and European politicians (sc. the Syrian Opposition, the Red.) meanwhile, as the reactionary forces are determined, the authoritarian Regime to strengthen,” writes Al-Araby al-Jadeed”.

The Sajeda Sainab district after the IS-stop

Trump card of the Syrian Opposition

But also the
Syrian Opposition
has a trump card in the Hand, writes the newspaper “Al-Sharq al-Awsat”. The costs of war are high and the military successes at the same time relatively straightforward. How long the Russians and the Iranians, to be willing, to bear the costs, is uncertain.

Without the armed Syrian Opposition said one of its spokesman, were IS and other dschihadstische groups do not adequately combat. Should the Syria war envolvierten States your help in the middle, should the Syrian Opposition for more concessions to demand.