De Mistura in Syria to Assure Upcoming Talks in Geneva

Staffan de Mistura’s visit comes as the Saudi-Iranian rift has raised concerns that the disagreements between Riyadh and Tehran could derail efforts to negotiate a peace process for Syria led by the UN, the United States and Russia.

The UN is urging the sides in Syria’s five-year-conflict to the negotiating table on Jan. 25 in an effort to find a resolution for the conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced half the country’s population.

Conferences in Geneva in 2014 failed to bring about a settlement, though this round is seen as particularly urgent after the UN Security Council passed a resolution last month endorsing a transitional plan for Syria.

Its passage was a rare show of unity among global powers, which have backed opposing sides of the conflict – Russia siding with Assad and the United States saying the Syrian leader should step down. The UN resolution made no mention of Assad’s fate after the transitional period.

“The Saudi-Iranian escalation of tension will have effects [on Geneva talks] since they are the two main regional powers ... in the Syrian arena,” said Khaled al-Nasser, a member of the main Western-backed opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition. “I am pessimistic.”

Nasser said Russia has been trying to put forward names of people close to the government among the opposition’s delegation to Geneva. He was apparently referring to Damascus-based opposition groups that are tolerated by Assad’s government, AP reported.

Earlier this week, de Mistura met with Syrian opposition officials in Saudi Arabia, which supports Assad’s opponents. From Damascus, de Mistura is expected to travel Sunday to Iran, which is the Syrian president’s main ally in the Middle East.

Nasser said the opposition has named a 50-member delegation, including 15 who will be the negotiating team in Geneva, adding that the others will be advisers and technical experts. He said the names have not been made public because they were still waiting to see who will be representing the government.

Upon arrival, de Mistura was received by deputy Syrian foreign minister, Aymen Sossan, but his talks with Syrian officials are to start Saturday.