Making Sense of the Geneva II Syria Peace Talks
Nearly three years into Syria’s civil war, representatives of the Assad regime and the Syrian National Coalition, along with delegations from the United States, Russia, and forty other interested nations, began peace negotiations in Switzerland on January 22. Amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and a widening spillover of violence, the need for a political solution is urgent. However, in a conflict currently being fought on the battlefield, there remains deep uncertainty whether the Geneva process can secure a path toward a durable solution.
Joining via Skype from Geneva, Bassel Korkor of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, a political umbrella organization representing the Syrian opposition, offers analysis of what transpired at the negotiating table. Mona Yacoubian discusses the strategies of various actors and how the outcomes of the Geneva meetings may impact the dynamics of the civil war. Frederic C. Hof moderates the discussion and parse US policy options moving forward.
To watch the full discussion, click here.