Syria, opposition confirm participation in peace talks

Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria

Syria’s government and the head of the main Western-backed opposition coalition both confirmed Wednesday that they would participate in a U.N.-sponsored peace conference.

But the two sides laid out starkly different visions of what talks would bring: the opposition sees a transitional government emerging, while the government insists it is not going to the conference to hand over power.

The United Nations on Monday announced that the long-delayed peace talks will begin Jan. 22 in Geneva. The meeting would be the first face-to-face talks between President Bashar Assad’s government and its opponents since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011. That has raised hopes that a resolution to a civil war that activists say has killed more than 120,000 people could be within reach.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that Assad will send an official delegation to the conference. The ministry stressed that the representatives “will be going to Geneva not to hand over power to anyone” but to meet with those “who support a political solution for Syria’s future.”

The main Western-backed Syrian opposition group also said it is ready to attend.

Previous attempts to bring Syria’s government and opposition to the negotiating table have failed.