Syrian Opposition to Attend U.N. Peace Talks in Geneva
By Christopher Specht ‘19For years, Syrian has been embroiled in a brutal civil war between the government, led by Bashar al-Assad, and Syrian rebels. Both sides have been accused of using chemical weapons and committing war crimes. To make matters worse, the Islamic State has taken control of vast swaths of territory, prompting the international community to launch airstrikes. The resulting carnage has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians and prompted many millions more to leave the country entirely, which led to a severe refugee crisis.However, the long march towards peace may have at least started. A delegation from the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Syria’s main opposition body, agreed on March 11th to attend peace talks mediated by the U.N. with the government in Geneva, Switzerland. The group wants to continue the positive effects of a cease-fire, sponsored by both the U.S. and Russia, that was brokered two weeks ago to ease the flow of humanitarian aid. The cease-fire allowed for continued attacks against more extreme groups such as the Islamic State and the Syrian al Qaeda branch Nusra Front.These talks, which may lead to the end of the Syrian Civil War, could be the key to returning stability to the war-torn country. The lack of a strong government presence to curb radicalism led to the growth of groups such as the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. A united Syria could be key in combatting these groups and restoring peace in the region. It is in the world’s best interest that these talks lead to productive strides towards a formal truce between the Syrian regime and the HNC, because a strong, stable Syria could be the key to a number of issues plaguing European countries and the United States. If the country can be stabilized, then the Syrian refugees would be able to return home safely, providing an end to the migrant crisis. Also, the Syrian government would be a key player in stopping the Islamic State, providing troops on the ground to reconquer its territory. Because of these potentially positive effects, the talks in Geneva carry great importance, so the eyes of the world will surely be watching.As much as these talks are a great step forward, it is likely that peace negotiations will not be fruitful because of the underlying issue of deciding whether Assad’s regime will continue to govern Syria. Neither side will be willing to compromise on this issue, so this truce will, at best, last until the Islamic State and Nusra Front can be brought to heel. Also, the international community is strongly divided on the issue; Russia wants to keep Syria in the hands of Assad, who has been a Russian ally in the region, and the U.S. wants to change Syria’s government and potentially gain a new ally. Like Assad and the HNC, neither Russia nor the U.S. seem willing to back down on their visions for Syria’s government. Though both Russia and the U.S. have sponsored this most recent ceasefire, it is likely a temporary measure to coordinate attacks against the Islamic State. After this common enemy is defeated, the Syrian Civil War will unfortunately return to business as usual.Sources:http://news.yahoo.com/main-syrian-opposition-groups-attend-geneva-peace-talks-124007285.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-opposition-geneva-peace-talks-bashar-assad-cease-fire-truce/http://www.wsj.com/articles/syria-opposition-to-attend-geneva-talks-1457701037