Group items tagged

Russia is attempting to bring opposition groups and the Syrian government to Moscow in order to "talk peace." In the past, Russia has supported the Syrian President and because of this, opposition groups are wearing of these alleged "peace talks." 

This is a report published on November 6, 2014 by the International Crisis Group about the current peace talks between Turkey's President Ergodan and leaders of the PKK. It discusses how after decades of conflict which cost tens of thousands of people their lives, neither Turkey nor the PKK believe that military victory is possible, and are meeting to discuss a peaceful resolution. However, the events in Syria has reignited ever-present tensions between the two groups, and a fruitful compromise between them is seeming less likely. In this report, the International Crisis Group details the parameters of a possible peace deal, and states that differences need to be put aside so that basic issues like "transitional justice, disarmament and decentralization" can be resolved.

In this news article on the BBC, a PKK commander claims that while the both sides leadership desires to move forward with the peace process, the peace talks with Turkey are in danger of turning into conflict. Cemil Bayik, a PKK commander in the Qandil mountains, says that the Turkish government's treatment of Kobane shows that it still views the PKK and the Kurdish people as a bigger threat than ISIS. Meanwhile, a Turkish government official, Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of the ruling AK Party, gave a statement saying that the PKK and the Kurds are using current time of instability to try to "upset the status quo", and try to set up a system of self-governance like Iraqi Kurdish groups. This article ends with dire warnings by both sides. Aktay warns that in the coming weeks and months, Turkey will actively try to prevent a "power grab" by the PKK in Kurdish towns. Meanwhile, Cemil Bayik says that unless the Turkish government changes its policies, the conflict between the Kurds and Turkey will continue, asserting that "if necessary the Kurds will fight against the Islamic State and the Turkish army."

A PKK commander tells the BBC that the peace process with Turkey is in danger of turning into conflict.

Moscow continues to push for peace talks between all the oppositions groups and the Syrian government. Russia believes that the best way to have peace is to avoid foreign interference and they call for sanctions to be lifted. 

This article references the current situation in seeking peace talks. The situation isn't going well, as only 3 of 15 groups were available to meet with the UN envoy. Moreover, the rebel groups want a cessation to the ceasefire so that they can retaliate against government forces. Their plan on doing so involves attacks in Hama and Latakia.

More hope for successful peace talks shown in this article. This concerns a clash between the Kurds and the rebels in the northern part of Syria. It is interesting to follow these conflicts as the US have shown support for the Kurds despite Turkey's complaints. Now, I am unsure what the response will be to the clash with the rebels.

Another article referring to the upcoming peace talks in Geneva on pi day. This one adds on the future plans for the conflict. It mentions that the aim is to successfully implement the ceasefire, create a transitional body, draft a new constitution, and hold fresh elections.

Syria has allowed aid into a rebel controlled area. The food and hygiene kits are a goodwill gesture that aim to get the peace talks back on track. 

The events from my previous post have led to growing doubts pertaining to the current peace talks as the government presses for control of Aleppo.

This New York Times article discusses the lead up to, the details of, and the resultant trilateral agreement that came from the Middle East Peace Talks that President Clinton held at Camp David in July of 2000. While talks initially seemed to be going well, negotiations reached an impasse over the control of Jerusalem. While Barak agreed to lesser control of East Jerusalem, Arafat would not consider anything of the sort. Both Clinton, Barak, and the media blame Arafat for the failed discussions.

Syrian peace talks suspended by UN until 25 February after lack of progress in first week. Both sides are blaming their opposition for the collapse of the peace talks.

The United Nations seems to have almost given up on the notion of any semblance of peaceful resolution with the Syrian government. Additionally, Russia's bombings of the region add another element of conflict, and the notion of some sort of Russia-UN conflict becomes more and more feasible.

The UN is expecting the nearing peace talks to be more successful than previous attempts. They will largely focus on forming an administration and elections for the transitional period. 

The UN has moved peace talks concerning Syria back to March 9th. This is to let the current cessation of hostilities settle down even more; there is a reduction in violence, but both sides of the conflict are still violating the cease fire.

A Russia today article talking about the possible cease fire and reiterating Russia's firm stance against IS, ISIS/ISIL, Al Nusra etc. the article then talks about Turkey's continued shelling despite the peace talks.

In this Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre release, the events of the Middle East Peace Summit are reviewed. While no peace agreement was made (and both sides claim that the other was unwilling while claiming to be overly fair), guidelines for future talks were settled upon.

Syria's current President Assad states the he wants the U.S. to take action and allow him to be a part of negotiations. U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry also states that Assad should be part of the peace talks but other world leaders such as in France and Turkey oppose this.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the Syria crisis by phone on Monday, expressing their full support for Syria peace talks in Geneva, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The UN is concerned by the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan but says the militant group's power to "unite insurgents is more significant than its capabilities in the war-torn country."