Syria: dying hope for peace negotiations

They also predict that the impasse will escalate the Syrian crisis because both the Syrian government and the opposition will increase military pressure.

Meetings between representatives of the Damascus administration and the opposition forces were expected to work out peaceful solutions to end the prolonged, bloody civil war. But international efforts were in vain when both the Syrian government and the opposition refused to compromise.

While the government said anti-terrorism was the top priority in the negotiations, the opposition repeated that the key to ending the war is to establish a transitional government without President Bashar al-Assad.

More than 100,000 people have died since the Syrian conflict began (Photo:Reuters)

Predicted failure

Prior to the negotiations, a number of experts said that a peace negotiation is a difficult and challenging fight, given the imbalanced counterweight between government and opposition forces. The government forces have dominated the fighting while the opposition forces have been divided by internal disagreements.

Two major allies of the Damascus administration, Iran and Russia, have begun to transfer weapons to Syria. Tehran has sent military personnel to support the Assad administration. Meanwhile, the US and other western countries have been training and equipping the Syrian militias. 

An expert of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said failure of the negotiations in Geneva would lead to military escalation. While the al-Assad administration says they have escaped the establishment of a transitional government, the opposition hopes the failed negotiations will bring them more support from the US and other western countries.

Possible military intervention

The US criticized President Assad’s government for intentionally obstructing progress of the talks in Geneva and accused Damascus of attacking on civilians. Washington is planning to increase its intervention in Syria.

During a visit to China last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington is discussing a change in its policy toward Syria and that military intervention appears to be an appropriate solution at the moment.

The US State Department has ambiguously referred to military intervention into the crisis in Syria. The Pentagon said military intervention would help to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria and fight terrorists, adding that increased military preparations will force President Assad’s government to agree to a diplomatic solution.

Last week, President Obama held a closed door meeting on Middle East issues with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. In exchange for an aid package of US$1.6 billion, Jordan will allow the US to use its territory for possible military attacks against Syria.

As part of its intervention plan, Washington will arm insurgent fighters to help them control the southern part of Damascus, which will be the springboard for military attacks to eliminate government forces.

Saudi Arabia has provided Syria’s opposition forces with advanced weapons including anti-aircraft shoulder launched missiles, which the White House feared could have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda. President Obama’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia suggests possible military intervention in Syria in the near future.

Britain has urged the UN Security Council to act immediately to end the humanitarian crisis in Syria. It said that the collapse of the recent talks prompts the international community for more resolute intervention. What has occurred indicates that Syria’s civil war will certainly become more intense.