The Geneva II peace talks were initially scheduled for June, and after months were finally set up for January 22, with a watchmakers’ convention forcing the talks to Montreaux. Even though these talks have been “set” for weeks there remains doubt over whether they’ll actually happen.
That’s because as the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) loses what little credibility it had among the rebellion, Western nations have told them they believe any “transitional” government in Syria would need to be dominated by President Bashar Assad and supporters.
Somehow, the SNC remained convinced they’d be given control of the nation at the conference, and the sudden realization that this isn’t going to happen has them considering pulling out of the talks, and insisting they never “formally” agreed to attend.
With every other rebel group refusing to attend (except the Kurds, who haven’t been invited) these aren’t going to be very meaningful talks, and the US is back to arguing that Iran shouldn’t be allowed to attend either, meaning that much like Geneva I, this could end up being little more than the US and Russia and a handful of other foreign powers debating what solution they want to impose on Syria.
All that rhetoric comes to the Assad government, his rule of the country where 70-78% of the Syrian would want to keep him as their president, where the Syrian government repeatedly been asking for these "rebels" to come and seat down negotiate and participate in 2014 election, yet they have forgot the fact that Syrian people are not interested in implementing a Saudis regimes nor a Saudis puppet regime, nor a regime that is bound by EU and USG decision making committee for Syria, when they get the point I think they will participate in a peace process that is good for Syria and Syrian people, now is the best time for that peace process.
The problem is the Obama, Cameron and Hollande regimes are not yet penitent and willing to engage in genuine negotiations.
The propaganda attacks continue as seen in the press,, you would scarcely think they were trying to arrange a peace conference.
The string puppets and ventriloquists dolls of the assets and paramilitaries are supposedly repeatedly pleaded with by the Obama regime to attend the conference even though they are entirely their creatures.
Meanwhile the regime has not abandoned its objective of overthrowing the Syrian government and wishes to do so by a "Transition" in which its assets take power after the government is forced to surrender at a" "peace" conference".
This is the standard way of taking over countries and has occurred in country after country.
Al-Qaeda is the dominant rebel force in Syria, why would anyone think that they want a peace conference,? they have their own method of law and order….."Saw your head off with a butter knife."
"little more than the US and Russia and a handful of other foreign powers debating what solution they want to impose on Syria."
That's good. It is the only way to end a proxy war. The locals have nothing to do with the basic decisions driving this war.
Peace talks take time. You need to have all the channels in place for the time when both sides are ready for it. Its not going to be instantly achieved.