A Realistic Agenda for Syrian Talks

Syrian peace talks are finally under way in Switzerland, after no shortage of brinkmanship and the withdrawal of a last-minute invitation to Iran. The talks are off to an acrimonious start, and if they’re to have any chance of succeeding, negotiators would be wise to focus on realistic goals. An end to the fighting or agreement on a transitional government is too much to ask for. Better for diplomats to work out ways to bring humanitarian aid to the millions displaced by the civil war.

The difficulty with the so-called Geneva II process is that the Syrian government and its foes have diametrically opposed assumptions about its purpose. For the rebels and their U.S. backers, it’s about shaping a transitional government for Syria that excludes President Bashar al-Assad. For the regime and its Russian supporters, Geneva II is about creating international legitimacy for Assad to remain in power.