Erdoğan: Start of Geneva talks without ceasefire is ‘betrayal’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that starting Geneva talks on Syria without a ceasefire in place is “betrayal”, Alkhaleejonine.com reported on Friday.

Speaking to reporters following Friday prayers, Erdoğan said that Russia keeps attacking areas held by the moderate opposition, which prevents the establishment of a ceasefire.

“The constant bombing by Russia of opposition areas creates a significant problem for the opposition,” Erdoğan said. “Their participation [in the talks] without a cease-fire in place would be a betrayal of those fighting.”

Read: A Syrian breakthrough in Geneva is unlikely

Previously, the opposition delegations, which met in Riyadh on Thursday, decided not to attend the talks in Geneva until an agreement was reached to end airstrikes and bring aid to besieged towns, according to the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC).

Head of the HNC Riyadh Hijab said to Al-Arabia TV on Thursday that the opposition was waiting for positive measures before they make the final decision about their participation in the talks, stressing they would never participate before their humanitarian demands were met.

Turkey: Russia is occupying Syria and targeting civilians