Parallel' Negotiations İn Bern During Geneva Iı

Russia, the US, and Iran had 'parallel meetings' with the Syria National Coalition (SNC) in Bern province in Switzerland, while the negotiations were ongoing in Geneva.



French and the US diplomatic sources speaking on the condition of anonymity told Anadolu Agency that the SNC had secret and detailed meetings with Russia, the US and Iran while the negotiations were ongoing in Geneva.



The sources said that the statement by US Ambassador to Damascus Robert Ford that they did not participate in the meetings officially, is actually a confirmation of secret Bern meetings despite the denial of all parties.



The sources said that Russia and the Syrian regime have attached some conditions for accepting the Geneva I agreement that would envisage a transitional government in Syria, such as protection of their presence and existing interests in Syria.



Russia said it wants its Tartus naval facility to stay as its first condition, also demanding the maintenance of the oil, military and political agreements between Russia and Syria.



However, the former SNC chairperson, Burhan Ghalioun, said that Russia does not want to put pressure on the Syrian regime to make it accept a transitional government process.



Ghalioun also said that umbrella opposition group, Syrian National Coalition (SNC), did not extend any demands to Russian authorities during their visit to Russia last week, they only emphasized the cease of the barrel bomb attacks by the regime and start of the transitional process. Ghalioun said that SNC meeting with Russian authorities lasted around four hours.



The SNC is reportedly in contact with the internal opposition groups under the regime's protection, who aim to protect the government institutions in Syria.



The Bern meetings aimed to prevent the dissolution of the Syrian army and police forces, as happened in Iraq.



Also, sources close to the opposition said that the US is leaning towards Iran's participation in the second round of negotiations.  



It was also said that Syrian National Coalition (SNC) would create a committee to negotiate with Iran, as an actor having a central role in the Syrian crisis and its influence on the Assad regime.



During the negotiations between January 25 and 31, the opposition insisted on a 'transitional government' while the regime pushed for a focus on the 'war on terror'.



No progress was achieved during the first round of talks in 2014 which aims to find a political way out of Syria crisis, including the access of Syria people to humanitarian aid in some regions. - İstanbul