Geneva conference "no breakthrough" in Syrian settlement process - analyst
MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - The Geneva meeting on Syria has failed to open a path towards resolution of the Syrian conflict, but the trust of all sides in Kofi Annan is a positive start, said State Duma member Vyacheslav Nikonov, who is also President at the Politika (Politics) Foundation.
"The outcomes of the Geneva conference do not mean that the Syrian conflict will be settled quickly. At the same time, an important positive aspect is a certain level of trust shown by all conflicting parties with respect to Kofi Annan," Nikonov told Interfax on Sunday.
There are serious doubts about the plan prepared at the conference, whereby representatives of both sides of the conflict could join a new Syrian government, the political analyst said. "I do not think the opposition would accept that. As for representatives of the current authorities, again the serious question is: what is the reason for them to accept such a compromise, if they are still in power and feel quite confident," the analyst said.
The Geneva meeting can be seen as an attempt to find a solution to settle the conflict, but not as a serious breakthrough, the expert said. "What happened in Geneva, I would not rate it in terms of someone's diplomatic victory, or, on the contrary, a failure. The situation remains very complicated," Nikonov said.