BEIRUT: Syrian government and rebel delegates at the opening session of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana both called for a shaky ceasefire to be bolstered, but differed starkly on what purpose the truce would serve. The talks, sponsored by Russia, Iran and Turkey, should consolidate the ceasefire for a limited period, the head of the government delegation said in an opening statement reported by Syrian state news agency Sana. The ceasefire should allow rebel groups wishing to engage in “national reconciliation” and join “the political process” to be separated from IS and the Fatah al Sham Front, Bashar al Jaafari said. Opposition chief negotiator Mohammed Alloush said his team had come to Astana to ensure genuine implementation of the ceasefire, brokered by Russia and Turkey, which went into force at the end of December.
The ceasefire was needed in order to start work on a political settlement that should involve the departure of President Bashar al Assad and the “ruling gang,” Alloush told delegates seated around a large circular table in Astana’s five-star Ricos hotel. “We have come here to consolidate the ceasefire as a first stage in that process. We will not move on to any further steps unless that is genuinely implemented on the ground,” Alloush said in a video of his opening statement published on social media by an opposition adviser. The opposition has said it will only talk about implementation of the ceasefire at Astana and will not engage in political negotiations. Fighting between the government and rebels has continued around Damascus despite the ceasefire. — DPA
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