Syrian opposition attends talks, holding onto humanitarian demands

United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura met on Sunday with the delegation of the Riyadh-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) within the framework of the first round of the Geneva talks that started on Friday with the aim of resolving the conflict in Syria.

Until the last minute, the HNC had refused to attend the talks. The group, which includes both armed and political opponents of Syrian regime leader Bashar Al-Assad, had insisted it wanted an end to air strikes and sieges of towns and the release of detainees before talks could start.

Late on Friday, the HNC said it was going to Geneva, having received guarantees that its demands, outlined in a UN Security Council resolution last month, would be met, but it made clear its engagement in the process would initially be limited.

HNC General Coordinator Dr Riad Hijab confirmed in a statement on Sunday that the decision to attend was made following written pledges received from a number of international forces that Articles 12 and 13 of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 would be implemented.

The two articles address the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Syria through lifting the blockades, releasing detainees and an immediate halt to the indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Hijab added that as long as the regime and its allies continue to commit “crimes” against civilians “there would be no justification for the presence of the HNC delegation in Geneva”.

The HNC will notify the UN envoy of its intention to withdrawn its negotiating team if the UN and other international parties are unable to stop these violations, he added.