First day of Syria talks in Astana comes to a tense end

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‍The first day of the two-day Syrian talks in Astana ended on Monday, with the Syrian government delegation and rebels holding indirect meetings, with expected tensions surfacing at the venue in Astana.

The delegations representing the government and the rebels were set to meet face to face for the first time in the country's nearly six-year-old conflict, but it wasn't completely that way.

A brief face-to-face meeting actually took place during the opening session of the talks, with both parties sitting at a round table with their respective foreign backers.

This short vis-a-vis is considered by observers as an important step, as it marks the first time the rebels' representative and government delegation have sat face to face in an international arena, with the hope of hammering out the first step towards a solution to the country's long-lasting conflict.

Turkey, Iran and Russia were at the table during the opening session, which was delayed for 40 minutes due to some differences, as the rebel delegation was against the presence of the Iranian delegation in the conference room.

Following the opening session, Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the Syrian delegation to the conference, told reporters that the opening statement of Muhammad Alloush, the head of the rebel delegation, was "provocative and rude."

Bashar al-Jaafari, head of the Syrian delegation /CFP Photo

He further said that the rebel delegation was ill-educated in the principles of diplomacy, adding that they didn't even seem to know what they have signed on when they agreed to a Turkish-Russian sponsored ceasefire that went into force on December 30.

One of the sticking points between both delegations is the topic of the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, which later changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Arabic for the "Front of Conquering the Levant." The group is designated as a terrorist group by the UN, and thus excluded from any ceasefire or settlement.

However, the rebel delegation didn't seem to be ready to deem that group as an enemy.

Muhammad Alloush, head of the rebel delegation /CFP Photo

During the first session, the rebels' delegation brought up the subject of the ongoing military campaign in the water-rich Barada Valley northwest of Damascus.

They said the government was breaching the truce through its attacks in Barada, where the rebels were accused by the government of cutting the main water source of Ain al-Fijeh spring from the capital.

The government delegation was astonished by the remarks, pushing Jaafari to say that the rebels didn't seem to know what they have signed on when they agreed to the ceasefire.

Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov (R) takes part in the first session of Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan on January 23, 2017. /CFP Photo

It's known now that the Nusra Front is the striking force in Barada, and it's the rebel group that has hindered several deals with the government, prompting the later to push with a military campaign to in that area to restore water to Damascus that has been struggling with the scarcity of water since a month ago.

In a briefing to reporters, following the first session, two of the rebel delegates were asked by reporters whether they are ready to turn their guns on the Nusra Front.

The first session of Syria peace talks begins in Astana, Kazakhstan on January 23, 2017. /CFP Photo

But the reply was rather vague, as they said that this topic was discussed with the Russians, and the rebels said all foreign groups fighting alongside the government forces should withdraw from Syria before such a point can be discussed.

They were referring to the Shiite fighters of Hezbollah and other Shiite fighters from Iraq and Afghanistan, who were of great help to the Syrian army in the fight against the rebels.

So it's the same old story, about the need to categorize the rebel groups, particularly the Nusra Front, which enjoys several key alliances with other rebel groups, unlike the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which has no alliances with key rebel groups in Syria.‍

The first session of Syria peace talks begins in Astana, Kazakhstan on January 23, 2017. /CFP Photo

A media source in Astana told Xinhua over the phone that the Russians are trying their best to make the conference a success, particularly that the major aim of the meeting in Astana is to agree on a robust ceasefire and the rebel detachments from Nusra.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that pressure is being practiced by the supervising powers on their Syrian allies respectively to achieve the goals of the conference.

UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (R) meets with an Iranian delegation prior to the first session of Syria peace talks on January 23, 2017. / CFP Photo

He said that the rebels were the ones refusing to hold the face-to-face meeting with the government, adding that they reluctantly agreed to meet in the opening session only.

Later on, both parties held a meeting separately from different rooms, with the Russians and the Turks mediating the talks.

The source said the outcome of the conference is not yet clear, but the Russian and Turkish patrons are working toward reaching an understanding, whose feature will be clearer at the end of the talks.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

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