Iran hosts Syria forum pushing for peace talks

IRAN: Iran on Thursday hosted a 29-nation conference on the conflict gripping its key ally Syria and backed moves to start peace talks between the Damascus regime and opposition groups.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters after the hastily called meeting that “a major part of the opposition has announced that it is ready to negotiate with the Syrian government in Tehran without any preconditions.” But there was no confirmation of that assertion from the Syrian opposition, which, like the Damascus government, did not attend the Tehran conference.

Salehi offered few details about the initiative, only that Iran would coordinate with Syria’s government on how to move forward. Thursday’s four-hour meeting gathered several countries, notably Russia, China, Cuba and Venezuela, that are friendly to Iran. Most of the nations taking part were represented by ambassadors residing in Tehran, not foreign ministers.

Countries that Iran has accused of arming the Syrian opposition -- the United States and its European allies, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- were excluded. The participants expressed “serious concern over the continuation of clashes and violation of human rights in Syria” and rejected any foreign intervention, Salehi said.

He added that the discussions focused on a ceasefire for Syria, humanitarian aid and preparing the ground for national dialogue. AFP