No accord on Syria talks participants, timing – UN chief

UNITED NATIONS – Major powers have not agreed on who will take part in an international conference on the Syrian conflict or when it will be held, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, May 29.

Amid growing doubts that a conference can be organized in June, Ban told reporters “active consultations” were still being held, while US Ambassador Susan Rice said the US government’s “entire foreign policy apparatus” was working to hold the meeting.

Russia and the United States agreed this month to press for a Syria peace conference.

The talks would follow up on a meeting of the major powers held in Geneva a year ago that set a transition process. This time around, it would include representatives of President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian opposition.

Ban said he had earlier discussed the proposed conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

There is still a dispute over whether Iran, a backer of Assad, and Saudi Arabia, which supports the rebels, should take part in the meeting, according to diplomats.

There are also doubts about who would represent the opposition.

Western nations had hoped to hold the conference in Geneva during the week of June 10. “But there is a danger of slippage,” one Western diplomat said.

Ban noted that there were “still many elements which we have to clear,” and stressed that the largely divided opposition must go to any conference “in a coherent and unified manner.”

“We also have some other issues, participation issues — who should participate in this meeting,” the UN chief added, without giving details.

“Therefore, I am not in a position at this time to tell you exactly when this will take place. But we are all committed to convene this meeting as soon as possible.”

Rice, the US envoy to the United Nations, told reporters that the United States was working with Russia and the United Nations on the so-called Geneva II event.

She pointed to “outstanding questions and issues” as to which countries will take part, as well as the representation of the Syrian government and opposition and the timing of the meeting.

Kerry, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris on Monday, “has been working very hard on this, as has the entire foreign policy apparatus of the United States government,” said Rice. – Rappler.com