Syrian government delegation trades insult with opposition as U.N.-sponsored talks end

Record ID: 645230

  • Title: Syrian government delegation trades insult with opposition as U.N.-sponsored talks end
  • Date: 31st March 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 31, 2017) (REUTERS) JA'AFARI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION, BASHAR AL-JA'AFARI, SAYING (AUDIO OF ENGLISH TRANSLATOR IS HEARD DURING SOUNDBITE): "Throughout this round they talked a lot and simply made statements one after the other that were ridiculous. Statements that conveyed distorted views and distorted logic as if they were competing in a TV show where competitors were only seeking votes, like Arab Idol and The Voice." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION, BASHAR AL-JA'AFARI, SAYING (AUDIO OF ENGLISH TRANSLATOR IS HEARD DURING SOUNDBITE): "Since they are tools and mercenaries in the hands of their lords, their operators, and it seems they have not received instructions from them, except instructions to continue supporting terrorism and to create havoc in these rounds. This shows clearly the faces of their operators who sponsor terrorism. Their operators that want to undermine the processes in Astana and in Geneva." PERSON TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION, BASHAR AL-JA'AFARI, SAYING: What is required of all ambassadors at the Security Council is to digest and metabolise mentally and physically that the aims and the rules of the talks in Geneva are intra-Syrian talks with no foreign interference." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2017 19:50
  • Keywords: United Nations UN Switzerland Bashar al Ja'afari Staffan De Mistura Syria peace talks
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036AALKCN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Negotiators from Syria's government and opposition traded insults on Friday (March 31), calling each other "terrorists" and "adolescents" after an eight-day round of peace talks in Geneva.
    The two sides do not meet but negotiate via U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura, saving their liveliest invective for the TV cameras after each meeting with him.
    The government's chief negotiator, Bashar al Ja'afari, Ja'afari compared the opposition to people appearing on a television talent show such as "Arab Idol" or "The Voice", and were under the illusion that government would simply hand over the keys to the country.
    Opposition negotiator Nasr al-Hariri said the "terrorist regime" of President Bashar al-Assad had refused to discuss political transition during the talks and said Assad was a war criminal who must step down in the name of peace.
    The Geneva talks, which began fitfully last year before being drowned out by the escalating war, were originally backed by the United States and Russia. While Russia is widely seen as holding the balance of power, the United States has backed away from its previous overt support for the rebels.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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