Syrian parties prepare for peace talks with federalism on agenda

Syria’s warring parties are gearing up to resume peace talks this week, with a federal division of the Arab country likely on the table as the opposition confirms its participation.

According to Press TV, the Saudi-backed opposition coalition, called the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said on Friday it will attend the second round of the UN-brokered indirect peace talks due on March 14 in Geneva.

The HNC said it would focus on setting up a “transitional governance body with full executive powers,” reiterating that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “will have no place” in a future Syrian administration.

Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, announced a halt to the first round of discussions on February 3 after the opposition refused to continue the talks.

An unidentified UN Security Council diplomat said on Friday that some major powers, including the US and Russia, have been considering the possibility of a federal structure for Syria, and have informed de Mistura of the idea.

According to the unnamed diplomats, cited by Reuters, the federal division of Syria would maintain its unity as a single state while granting broad autonomy to regional authorities.

ME