The main delegation of the Syrian opposition has been accepted to participate at the upcoming talks in Geneva about the Syrian crisis with the aim of finding a solution to the five-year civil war.
However, the team’s representative said that they wish to discuss humanitarian issues first.
The UN envoy to Syria, Staffan Di Mistura invited both representatives of the regime and the opposition to participate in proximity talks. Initially, the opposition representatives refused to participate in the talks before halting air raids over Syrian cities, but they changed their minds after receiving “guarantees” that their demands, which were included in a UN resolution, would be met.
Salem Al-Musallat, spokesperson for the Supreme Negotiations Council and main opposition representative, told media that the opposition will go to Geneva Saturday to “discuss some humanitarian issues in preparation for political negotiations”.
The council also has prepared a list of imprisoned women and children and will ask the regime to liberate them.
Di Mistura said the opposition wants to see a plan from the regime concerning the Syrians’ situation, but that “this point is not included in the negotiations”. He said that it would be better if both sides initiated these talks in order to reach an agreement.
The United States urged both sides to attend the peace talks in Geneva.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry convinced the opposition leader to participate in the peace talks, said State Department spokesperson, John Kirby.
“It is important for these talks to continue without prerequisites,” Kirby said
The regime’s delegation, headed by Bashar Jaafary, arrived in Geneva Friday without making a statement.
The Kurds were excluded from participating in these negotiations, even though they control large areas in Northern Syria.
The head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Saleh Muslim confirmed to Reuters that his party did not receive an invitation to attend the talks.
“If we do not participate in Geneva III, it will fail as Geneva II did, when they also excluded many important groups,” Muslim said.
