Geneva II mediator: 'tense' and 'promising' moments between Syrian delegations

GENEVA, Switzerland, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi provided an update on the eve of the last day of direct talks between delegates from the opposition Syrian Coalition and the Syrian government.

Speaking at a press conference, Brahimi described the day-long negotiations as made up of both "tense moments and also rather promising moments." Both parties, at the suggestion of the opposition, observed a minute of silence for all those who died during the Syrian conflict.

When asked by a reporter about the status of getting the government to agree to allow humanitarian aid into the embattled city of Homs, Brahimi admitted he was "very, very disappointed..." He rhetorically questioned "what goes first?" in a complex security environment. "Do you get the supplies, aid, in, and then allow people to come out? Or, get people out first and then see what you do about aid getting in."

Although humanitarian workers are unable at the moment to deliver aid to Homs, Brahimi noted that a minor success occurred around midday in Damascus, when 600 packages -- each containing enough food to feed a family of five for one month -- were allowed into the Yarmouk refugee camp.

With regard to the impact of the week-long negotiations and next steps, Brahimi concluded his Thursday briefing:

"... this is really the beginning of our process. I think it was necessary, at least I thought so, to let the two parties really express themselves sometimes in very, very strong terms about their feelings, their hopes, their fears. I hope that in the next session, when we come back, we will be able to have a more structured discussion. So you know, we will keep in touch also during this period of, when everybody goes back home. So you know, all I can tell you is that I hope that when we all come back, we will have a more structured discussion."

[United Nations]