MESOP NEWS : PUTIN’S GREAT FAKE CONFERENCE – Sochi Conference Opens Without Syria’s Opposition

30 Jan 2018 – Scott Lucas – eaworldview – Meanwhile, Russia opens its conference in the southern city of Sochi, insisting that the long-delayed gathering would have some political significance despite the absence of Syria’s opposition.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “The fact that some representatives of the processes currently taking place in Syria are not participating is unlikely to stop this congress from going ahead and is unlikely to seriously undermine the importance of the congress.

Everyone recognizes that immediate breakthroughs in the Syrian peace process are unlikely to be possible. The only thing that is possible is patient, incremental, detailed work that can move us forward. In this sense, the congress will be a very important, meaningful step on this road.

Russia’s envoy Alexander Lavrentiev said he some members of other opposition factions — a reference to the “Moscow Group” and “Cairo Group” of politicians and activists supported by the Russians — would attend and that “all strata” of Syrian society would be represented.

Russia’s draft statement for the gathering proclaimed “respect of and full commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic”. Russian State media declared that UN envoy de Mistura, who said last weekend that he would join the proceedings, will head a Constitutional commission to be established by the conference.

Moscow first proposed the congress last autumn but it was held up by a series of political complications, such as Turkey’s objection to the presence of Syrian Kurdish factions such as the Syrian Kurdistan Democratic Union Party (PYD). Last week the opposition High Negotiations Committee, after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, said it would not attend.

George Sabra, a leading opposition member, reiterated on Monday, “[Sochi] is a project to serve Russian policy. The Russians are trying, through this congress, to find a place for themselves in the Syrian political space after putting their heavy hand on Syrian land.”

Syrian Kurdish politician Hediye Yusuf also evaluated that little will be achieved at the conference.

France, Britain, and the US also turned down Russian invitations to observe the proceedings, saying that they are an attempt to overtake a UN-supported political process in Geneva.

”All other initiatives, like the Sochi meeting organized by Russia, must support the UN process and be in that framework,” a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “We take note of the Syrian opposition’s decision not to go to Sochi. France will not participate in the work being carried out there.”

Britain’s Syria envoy Martin Longden said: UK will not participate in the Sochi conference. Despite Russia’s efforts the regime refuses to engage and has damaged confidence that Sochi can help the Geneva process.We urge Russia to use its influence to persuade the regime to cease its destructive behavior.  www.mesop.de