Syrian opposition meets in Riyadh as U.S., Russia reach 'provisional' deal
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 February 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Syrian opposition meets in Riyadh as U.S., Russia reach 'provisional' deal, 22 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570cdf486.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 22, 2016
Syria's main opposition umbrella group was meeting in the Saudi capital on February 22 as Washington and Russia continued diplomatic efforts aimed at brokering a cease-fire deal.
Monzer Makhous, a spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee, said on February 22 that the Riyadh meeting was expected to last for two or three days with various Syrian opposition groups discussing developments since they decided to attend peace talks in Geneva in January.
Those UN-brokered peace talks collapsed in early February as Syrian government forces pushed forward with a Russian and Iranian-backed military offensive against opposition fighters in Aleppo.
The Riyadh opposition talks, which do not include Islamic State militants, come a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a "provisional agreement" with Russia for a partial truce in Syria.
Opposition leaders say they will agree to a truce if Moscow and Tehran halt their fire and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime allows humanitarian aid deliveries into besieged, opposition-held areas.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
