UN Retracts Iran’s Invite for Geneva 2

Local Editor

The UN has withdrawn an invitation for Iran to the January 22 Geneva 2 conference after Syria's main western-backed opposition group threatened to pull out of talks if the Islamic Republic attends.

A UN spokesperson announced Monday that UN chief Ban Ki-moon has withdrawn his invitation for Iran.
"He [Ban] continues to urge Iran to join the global consensus behind the Geneva communique," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said. "Given that it has chosen to remain outside that basic understanding, [Ban] has decided that the one-day Montreux gathering will proceed without Iran's participation."

Following the announcement, the so-called "Syrian National Coalition" - has confirmed its participation in the talks.

"We appreciate the United Nations and Ban Ki-moon's understanding of our position. We think they have taken the right decision. Our participation is confirmed for 22 January," Monzer Akbik, chief of staff stated.

Washington said it is hopeful that the sides can now refocus their efforts to end the Syrian civil war.
"We are hopeful that, in the wake of today's announcement, all parties can now return to focus on the task at hand, which is bringing an end to the suffering of the Syrian people and beginning a process toward a long overdue political transition," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador to the UN, Mohammad Khazaee, has expressed doubts that the Geneva 2 conference will settle the conflict in Syria. "I'm not very optimistic that the Geneva 2 conference might solve anything in Syria," the diplomat told Itar-Tass on Monday.

Iran maintained it would take a seat at the talks only if no preconditions are set. Several other powers, including the US, insisted that Tehran should agree that the premise of the talks is to pave the way for establishing a transitional governing body in Syria.

Moscow has insisted on Iran's participation in the talks and said that not inviting the republic would be "an unforgivable mistake."
"Those who question such a need are clearly not interested in a fair resolution of the Syrian crisis," Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said at a Security Council meeting on Monday, cited Itar-Tass. He added that it would be "a big mistake" if the Coalition decided against joining in the Geneva 2 talks.

Sunday's last-minute invite by UN chief Ban Ki-moon sparked a confrontation with Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK and France.

The American State Department said it would accept the invitation on the condition Iran expresses "explicit and public support for the full implementation of the Geneva communiqué including the establishment of a transitional governing body by mutual consent with full executive authorities."

The Geneva communiqué outlines key steps and measures for a solution to the Syrian crisis. The document, which was agreed upon at the first Syrian peace conference in June 2012, proposed a transitional government to be elected by mutual consent between the government and the opposition. It was vague on the fate of the Syrian president.

Ban said that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had assured him that Tehran understands the basis of the talks is the full implementation of the Geneva peace plan.
However, Iran's deputy foreign minister Hosein Amirabdollahian voiced a different position on Monday.
"Setting such a condition to accept the Geneva 1 agreement for attending the Geneva 2 meeting is rejected and unacceptable," he said, as cited by ISNA news agency. "Iran will attend the talks without any precondition, based on an invitation by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team