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maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 11:42 AM Jun 2012

Bomb Explodes in Damascus as Countries Gather to Discuss Syria

Source: NYT

Published: June 30, 2012

BEIRUT, Lebanon — As diplomats from major countries gathered on Saturday to try to broker a solution to the Syrian conflict, yet another bomb went off in the heart of the capital and the government boasted that it was continuing to pummel a rebellious suburb.

Kofi Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy who convened the meeting of nations in Geneva, warned in his opening remarks that the conflict was in danger of escalating into a severe international crisis, and chided global powers that their competing agendas had helped to fuel the violence. Differences over whether the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, can be part of a peace settlement has threatened to block progress.

“An international crisis of grave severity now looms,” said Mr. Annan, highlighting “the threat of a regional spillover, a new front for the forces of international terrorism, the prospect of ever increasing radicalization and extremism, the specter of an ever greater slide into sectarian conflict, a violently unstable country filled with weapons — including those of the most insidious kind — and in the midst of one of the most delicately balanced and conflict-torn regions in the world.

“This is the situation we have allowed to emerge,” Mr. Annan continued. “No one should be in any doubt as to the extreme dangers posed by the conflict — to Syrians, to the region and to the world.”

Mr. Annan called for a government of national unity with full executive powers that could include members of the present government but not include “those whose continued presence and participation would undermine the credibility of the transition and jeopardize stability and reconciliation.” That suggested the exclusion of Mr. Assad, especially since the Syrian opposition has refused any discussion of a peace deal that includes the Syrian dictator.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/world/middleeast/future-of-syria-on-agenda-as-countries-gather-in-geneva.html

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Bomb Explodes in Damascus as Countries Gather to Discuss Syria (Original Post) maddezmom Jun 2012 OP
Russia offers to host next Syria meeting: agency maddezmom Jun 2012 #1
Damascus Zofa the first moments after the bombing of the funeral procession 30 62 012 tabatha Jun 2012 #2

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
1. Russia offers to host next Syria meeting: agency
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 01:16 PM
Jun 2012

12:58pm EDT
MOSCOW | Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:27pm EDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will propose a new international meeting on the Syrian crisis in Moscow and that Syria should be represented, Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified source close to this weekend's talks in Geneva as saying on Saturday.

Russia and Western powers are at loggerheads over the international community's role in Syria, with foreign ministers and international diplomats trying to reach common grounds in Geneva for a peace deal in the country


more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/30/us-syria-crisis-russia-talks-idUSBRE85T0FG20120630

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
2. Damascus Zofa the first moments after the bombing of the funeral procession 30 62 012
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 02:10 PM
Jun 2012


Assad said that the solution to Syria will not come from outside.
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