Syrian opposition figures on Monday began four days of talks on how to end
the near four-year conflict, with members of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime
set to join them but the main exiled opposition alliance boycotting the event.
The closed-door talks opened as planned at 11 am Moscow time (0800 GMT), a Russian diplomatic
source told RIA Novosti. The talks are set to run until Thursday.
“Around 25 [members of the Syrian opposition] have arrived. I think
there will be up to 30,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov
said.
Russia, the most powerful
backer of Assad’s government, hopes to burnish its credentials as a diplomatic
mediator while it is …read more
Source: The Jakarta Post
