The final communiqué of the #ViennaTalks reflects the appetite of world powers to force fit a diplomatic solution within the current status quo.
The intentions of the key parties are fairly clear – one just needs to read through masked language:
1) “secular character“ stands out as reference to regime, exclusion of range of parties pic.twitter.com/RBcCp0YOlc
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
2) “State institutions” – reference to all, incl. security/army. Political opposition/ rebels exclude these pic.twitter.com/wQlzTMYmWa
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
3) This point = minority rights (hasn't applied to majority (Sunni Arabs) from beginning of this call 4 years ago pic.twitter.com/fOUvAsF0B6
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
4) Key interests to be secured, namely regime rump-state. Push semi-perm zones: ISIS, Kurds, Regime, rebels in-btwn pic.twitter.com/cL1n8BxCOE
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
5) Riiight. As powers ignore previous commitments why not call for more humanitarian commitments. pic.twitter.com/m1RhTMaV6b
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
6) Terrorists “must be defeated”. Iran/Russia consider all anti-regime grps terrorists. Political cover to hit them pic.twitter.com/BqXWZtMXJo
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
7) Refer to Geneva communiqué, but don't speak to fate of Assad. Powers still assessing his usefulness. For now. pic.twitter.com/aK5nH7ziRN
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
8) This is a good one. "Syrian led political process" starts with 20 regional and world powers excluding Syrians pic.twitter.com/gQTc0t1GXm
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
9) Local ceasefires –previously a tool for Assad’s siege tactics, this aims to stop fighting to create zones in #4 pic.twitter.com/MYrU8pT0Y7
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
US/Russia seem to be aligned at a highlevel. Key question is how regional powers Saudi/Turkey react to this as it’s unclear how they benefit
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
As #viennatalks close, i get the sense US-Russia agreed to solidify the status quo – the former containing ISIS, latter targeting rebels
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
This move has alot to do w/protecting Kurdish fighters from Turkish air strikes. 50 US soldiers act as human shields https://t.co/P64IvxSDET
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
Diplomatic delusions. As “peace” was discussed Assad/Russian airstrikes killed more than a hundred people today. #RIP #viennatalks
— Abu Adib (@sarabiany) October 31, 2015
Read below for the full statement.
sarabiany 