The Sochi talks are again in the news for a new attempt renew dialogue. Delegations from the Syrian government and political opposition have reached the Russian city of Sochi to hold talks over the issue of war in Syria. The talks are spearheaded by Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The talks are in no way related to UN-led efforts at Geneva and are solely sponsored by the three nations of Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The Talks, which begin on Monday is slated to end on Tuesday and are held within the framework of the Astana diplomatic track.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations’ special envoy for Syria and some officials from the state of Jordan are some of the people attending the 10th round of the Astana-type-talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
The main opposition bloc, High Negotiations Committee is being represented by Ahmed Tumah, the former head of the Syrian interim government.
Syria’s ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, is also in the talks representing the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.
The talks are aimed at addressing various humanitarian issues apart from the latest situation in the so-called “de-escalation zones” that once included four provinces.
The last rebel-held stronghold in the country, Idlib, is representing the Russian-brokered “de-escalation” agreements aiming to shore up ceasefires in parts of western Syria.
The province that borders Turkey has provided shelter to nearly three million people, which includes opposition fighters along with their families.
The talks will also focus on the return of Syrian refugees to the country, releasing of the detainees and the establishment of a special committee responsible for rewriting the Syrian constitution.
The main target of both diplomatic tracks of Astana and Geneva has always been to achieve a political transition and a military ceasefire in Syria. But, as always, the main sticking point has been the fate of Assad.
While the Syrian government has continuously refused to agree to Assad leaving power, the opposition says his removal is crucial for peace in the region.
The meetings have utilized for many years a two-year-old UN Security Council resolution endorsed by de Mistura as the basis for achieving a political transition plan in the region.
The Geneva talks have borne no fruit and are at a standstill for the past six months.
Last May, ninth Astana meeting was held in which all parties agreed to maintain the de-escalation zones that were decided to observe a ceasefire.
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