Geneva Iı: Syrian Regime And Opposition Announce Delegations

Syria's Assad regime and opposition group, National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSORF) -- who as of Tuesday will no longer include Syrian National Coalition --announced on the same day their delegations for the Geneva II peace talks, due to commence on January 22.



Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem is to head the nine-person delegation for the country, according to reports from Syria's official news agency SANA.



The Foreign Minister will be joined by Information Minister, Umran ez-Zubi; Assad's political and media advisor, Bouthanina Shaaban; deputy foreign ministers, Faisal Al-Moqdad and Ahmed Faruk Arnus; former secretary of state, Husameddin Ala; Syrian Permanent Representative to UN, Bashar Jaafari; press officer, Luna Shabal; and diplomat, Osama Ali, SANA reports.



Diplomats in the delegation were chosen from those who are not accused by the opposition of 'committing crimes' and did not serve in the security forces.



Chairman of the Legal Committee, Heysem El-Malih will head the delegation of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSORF).



Speaking to Anadolu Agency, NCSORF member, Ahmed Chakal said that their delegation will include: Chairman of NCSORF, Ahmed el-Jarba; deputy chairmen, Nur el- Amir and Abdulhakim Bashar; secretary-general, Bedir Camus; members of the political committee, Nizar el-Hakim and Mishel Kilo; members of the general assembly, Hadi el-Bahra, Enes el Abde, Muammed Husam Hafız, Muhammed Sabra, Ibrahim Berru, Ubetde Nuhas, Abdulahad Sutayfu, Abdulhamid Dervish; and the Head of the Syria Aid Coordination Unit (ACU), Suheyl el-Atasi and Rima Fuleyhan.



Chakal also said there were four more delegation members whose name has not yet been announced.



The Geneva II peace conference will take place in the Swiss town of Montreux, Switzerland on January 22 to bring together the Syrian regime and the Syrian opposition to discuss a transitional government for Syria with full executive powers.



Around 30 countries were invited to Geneva II talks, including the US, Russia, the UK, France, Germany and Turkey.



UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon withdrew his invitation to Iran to participate in the peace talks on Monday. - İstanbul