Group items tagged

India, China and Russia are urging all Syrian parties to stop the war, and resume peace negotiations. While these major powers are urging for peace, it seems to be the last thing on the parties agenda. 

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.

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." 

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.

This article works on the ideas of democratization. Since Libya and Tunisia have had revolutions in the past decade-they are still struggling to find their political place in their country and in the world. Creating Peace will help send a pulse through Tunisia. Peace will be made if Democracy is attained.

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.

In this Office of the Historian publication, US involvement in the peace process of Israel and its neighbors is described in general. Touching on the Oslo and the Camp David accords, this article sketches a brief outline of the events occurring on the attempted road to peace.

In this NPR discussion, two viewpoints are put forth and examined: a single state and peaceful two-state solution. One wishes for an Isolated Israeli government and one calls for a peaceful unification of its people. In the midst of it all, an interesting parallel is made to South Africa.

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. 

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.

In this Al-Bab translation, the details of the 2002 Arab Summit peace initiative for the Israel-Palestine conflict are outlined. Including borders based off of 1967 lines, and the right of protection, the plan was inspired by Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.

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. 

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.

In this Star article, the history of the two-state deal, and its morphing into a one-state deal, is highlighted and outlined. As the article states, the political leaders continue to grow more harsh with each other, while the people of the nations desire for a greater peace continues to rise.

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

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 Muslim Brotherhood responds to the Sinai attack. The Brotherhood states that the attacks are linked to the islamist militants. The Muslim Brotherhood "says it is a peaceful movement...believes that shedding blood of any Egyptian is forbidden." 

The Muslim Brotherhood responds to the Sinai attack. The Brotherhood states that the attacks are linked to the islamist militants. The Muslim Brotherhood "says it is a peaceful movement...believes that shedding blood of any Egyptian is forbidden."

On October 25th, 33 security personnel were killed in Sinai by Islamist militants. According to this article, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi was responsible for the security failures that resulted in the deaths. Sisi was quick to blame the Muslim Brotherhood for the attack, despite the Brotherhoods insistent denial.

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.