(Zaman Al Wasl)- The main Syrian opposition delegation sent only three delegates to meet the U.N. envoy mediating in Syrian peace talks on Monday, a Reuters camerawoman said, as pressure mounted over demands for concessions amid a surge in fighting on the ground.
The opposition High Negotiations Committee, which normally sends a delegation of about 15 to negotiate with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, also postponed a news conference by its chief coordinator Riyad Hijab from Monday until midday on Tuesday.
Nasr al-Hariri, an opposition delegate and National Coalition memebr, said de Misture had received specific questions by the HNC that should be answered over the peace process and the political transition.
The Syrian opposition can not be responsible for the imminent failure of the third round of Geneva. De Mistura must acknowledge the international powers over the stalled negotiations and who seeks to undermine the talks, Hariri added.
In its turn, the Damascus delegation had already sought on Friday to steer the round of peace talks away from the political transition that de Mistura hopes to promote as increased fighting across the country threatens to undermine a shaky truce in place since Feb. 27.
Bashar Jaafari, regime's chief negotiator, accused Israel on Monday of cooperating with ISIS and al-Qaeda militants in the Golan region, deflecting attention from intra-Syrian negotiations.
"It is no coincidence at all that this Israeli escalation was accompanied by irresponsible statements by members of the so-called Saudi delegation in the intra-Syrian talks here in Geneva," Jaafari said.
"The fact that all that happened simultaneously clearly indicates there are close ties between Israelis, and I regret to say some Arabs and some terrorists within Syria," he said.
He did not clarify how he believed the developments established a link between Israel and Islamist groups.
He said he had sent letters to the U.N. Secretary General and Security Council requesting they immediately intervene to condemn the cabinet meeting and request it did not reoccur. (With agencies)
The opposition High Negotiations Committee, which normally sends a delegation of about 15 to negotiate with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, also postponed a news conference by its chief coordinator Riyad Hijab from Monday until midday on Tuesday.
Nasr al-Hariri, an opposition delegate and National Coalition memebr, said de Misture had received specific questions by the HNC that should be answered over the peace process and the political transition.
The Syrian opposition can not be responsible for the imminent failure of the third round of Geneva. De Mistura must acknowledge the international powers over the stalled negotiations and who seeks to undermine the talks, Hariri added.
In its turn, the Damascus delegation had already sought on Friday to steer the round of peace talks away from the political transition that de Mistura hopes to promote as increased fighting across the country threatens to undermine a shaky truce in place since Feb. 27.
Bashar Jaafari, regime's chief negotiator, accused Israel on Monday of cooperating with ISIS and al-Qaeda militants in the Golan region, deflecting attention from intra-Syrian negotiations.
"It is no coincidence at all that this Israeli escalation was accompanied by irresponsible statements by members of the so-called Saudi delegation in the intra-Syrian talks here in Geneva," Jaafari said.
"The fact that all that happened simultaneously clearly indicates there are close ties between Israelis, and I regret to say some Arabs and some terrorists within Syria," he said.
He did not clarify how he believed the developments established a link between Israel and Islamist groups.
He said he had sent letters to the U.N. Secretary General and Security Council requesting they immediately intervene to condemn the cabinet meeting and request it did not reoccur. (With agencies)
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