U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry takes his seat across the table from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for their meeting about Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 2016. REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool
Reuters: With days to go, rival camps bicker over teams for Syria peace talks
Syrian peace talks will go ahead in Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry insisted on Thursday, but with just days to go, rival camps bickered about who should be invited to take part.
Kerry conceded that the timetable may slip from a planned Jan. 25 start but there would be no fundamental delay, he said, and U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura would send out invitations on Sunday.
"What will happen is on Monday, there will be some discussions (in Geneva), but I would say that by Tuesday and Wednesday people will be able to get there. We just see this is as logistical," Kerry told journalists at a roundtable discussion in Davos.
"We are just kind of lining pieces up a little bit here. So we’ll see where we are."
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MIDDLE EAST
Pentagon chief says Turkey could do more in fight against Islamic State.
Syria opposition rules out talks before end to air raids.
U.S.-led coalition needs to take back Mosul and Raqqa: Carter.
Iraqi PM wants Turkey to pull out troops.
Iraqi PM expresses doubts that 3 Americans were kidnapped.
Iraqi Kurdistan president: time has come to redraw Middle East boundaries.
Iran-linked groups focus of Baghdad kidnapping probe: U.S. sources.
John Kerry to land in Riyadh as U.S.-Iran relations spook Saudis.
Saudi Arabia and Isis: Riyadh keen to show it is tackling terror threat.
U.S. 'hopes' Saudi Arabia may reopen Tehran embassy.
ASIA
Laos picks new Communist Party chief.
North Korea leaders should face trial for crimes against humanity: U.N..
Afghanistan arrests Haqqani network members blamed for TV station attack.
Pakistan: Afghan territory used for deadly university raid.
Malaysia steps up security to counter terror threat.
Myanmar frees 102 prisoners, including prisoners of conscience. Myanmar's army-backed gov't frees 20 political prisoners.
S. Korea says time to consider nuclear talks without North. S. Korea leader: Nuclear talks should proceed without N. Korea.
University of Virginia student detained by North Korea.
China wants to launch its own digital currency.
Vanuatu snap election after MPs jailed.
AFRICA
U.S. military urges 'decisive action' against Islamic State in Libya. Fires still raging at major Libyan oil terminal after attack.
Nigeria must do more for Boko Haram kidnap victims: UN.
U.S. envoy says little achieved in U.N. meeting with Burundi president.
Somalia hotel attack: Terrorists kill at least 20 people in Mogadishu. Shabab stage deadly attack on beachfront restaurant in Mogadishu.
Islamic State claims responsibility for Cairo attack that killed nine.
Egypt intensifies crackdown ahead of Arab Spring anniversary.
Tunisia imposes night-time curfew after week of violent unrest. Tunisia imposes nationwide curfew amid spreading unrest.
Ex-presidential guards mount raid on Burkina Faso armoury.
Kenya military 'warned' over Somalia attack.
Nigeria shuts two oil refineries as Niger Delta militancy looms.
Unity government in South Sudan fails to take off.
Former Burundian Presidents appeal for peacekeeping force.
EUROPE
Merkel wrings pledge from Turkey to halt refugee flow to Europe.
The Latest: Macedonia shuts border with Greece to refugees.
Greece says at least 42 dead, including 17 children, after two migrant boats sink.
French PM Manuel Valls says refugee crisis is destabilising Europe.
France to keep its state of emergency 'until Isil is defeated'.
France's Sarkozy publishes 'mea culpa'.
Russian media shrugs off Litvinenko report.
Kiev decides to fine Russia's Gazprom for $3.4 bln.
IMF demands EU debt relief for Greece before new bailout.
Spain's King Felipe seeks government coalition deal.
AMERICAS
Mexico speeding efforts to ensure 'Chapo' extradited: president.
Murder rate rises in Mexico after 3 years of declines.
Venezuela lawmakers reject president's economic crisis plan.
U.S. strips five Russian honorary consuls of credentials.
Monster snow storm bears down on US east coast threatening chaos. US snowstorm: Millions prepare for huge blizzard.
US Senate leader surprises lawmakers with new ISIS war powers request.
Iranians granted leniency as DHS ends visa waivers for terrorism countries.
U.S. illegal immigrant population falls below 11 million, continuing nearly decade-long decline, report says.
Haiti election postponed amid street violence. Haiti postpones presidential election just days before vote.
Zika virus panic over birth defects in Latin America.
US health officials issue guidelines to deal with Zika virus.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Obama releases top al Qaeda explosives expert from Guantanamo.
Pakistan Taliban commander vows more school attacks in video.
Pentagon releases al Qaeda bomb expert from Guantánamo.
Kerry: Some Iran sanctions relief will go to terrorists.
IS jihadists to be 'seriously dented' by end of 2016, says Kerry.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Citigroup: Oil is the “trade of the year”.
Aviation giants tread carefully in test case for post-sanctions Iran.
Stock sock: $112 billion in media value destroyed since May.
Google paid Apple $1 billion to keep search bar on iPhone.
Apple’s Cook lobbies EU antitrust chief over Irish back taxes.
2 comments:
WNU Editor,
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2016/01/httpforeignpolicycom20160120u-n-envoy-signals-that-riyadh-is-obstructing-syria-peace-talks.html#comments
"Saudi Arabia is trying hard to win in the negotiations what its Wahhabi friends have not been able to win on the battlefield. That will not happen. Basic Tip: First you win on the battlefield, then at the peace talks.
IMO Syria and Russia are "playing along" with the peace talks meme for the purpose of demonstrating the futility of such an approach. That will work. pl ".
Kerry should have skipped I/P and stopped at Iran. At least he tried, a considerable improvement over loser H. Clinton, the warmonger.
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