Latest round of U.N.-led Syrian peace talks stall, as support dims for political solution

The latest round of United Nations-brokered peace talks between the Syrian opposition and the regime of President Bashar Assad have ended in failure, with both sides pessimistic any political solution can be reached.

The refusal by Damascus to engage on issues such as power sharing proposals with opposition forces, possible changes to the country’s constitution and an eventual new round of elections has left the U.N. talks in Geneva at an impasse.

“I am being very pragmatic in the fact that I am very disappointed” with the Assad regime’s unwillingness to seek any cooperation with opposition leaders, U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters late Thursday at the conclusion of this month’s talks.

Rather the main focus of the Syrian government delegation was the elimination of all terror groups in the country, which Damascus also includes anti-government forces under that definition. As a result, the Assad regime has squandered “a golden opportunity” to end seven years of violence and bloodshed resulting from the country’s ongoing civil war, Mr. de Mistura said.

Nasr al-Hariri, head of the the Syrian opposition, said the regime’s actions in Geneva has placed the “credibility of the international community at stake,” adding Damascus’ efforts at “sabotaging the political process” in Geneva is undermining the entire U.N.-led effort.

When asked whether opposition leaders would be willing to engage in a fresh round of negotiations. Mr. al-Hariri replied: “I don’t think that another round would be quite effective.”

The brutal takedown by the Assad regime and their Russian and Iranian counterparts of anti-government forces during the seven-year civil war, culminating in last year’s recapture of the Syrian rebel stronghold of Aleppo after a devastating Russian air campaign, has only strengthened Damascus’ hold on power inside Syria.

Russia continues to bank on the Syrian regime remaining in power in postwar Syria, in the hopes of maintaining or expanding its military presence in the Middle East, via its bases inside the country. Russia continues to pursue its own parallel Syrian peace talks held by Ankara, Moscow and Tehran in Astana, Kazakhstan beginning in May.