“The main reason for the lack of success in UN efforts and its special envoys is that terrorist groups and their patrons are against preserving the Syrian government and its institutions. The leadership of the Syrian people respects the exclusive right of Syrians on defining their current and future [lives],” Halqi said in an interview.
Halqi said progress that Damascus was hoping for was not reached in the talks because there is a lack of unity from the opposition delegations that reflects the opinion of the Syrians.
“Syria participated in the Geneva-2 conference, in two rounds of the current Geneva talks, and now our delegation is participating in the third round of negotiations. We won't exaggerate the success of these rounds because they are still on the beginning stages. Progress we were hoping for was not reached, but difficulties that we ran into during these talks are expressed in the lack of a united opposition delegation that expresses the aspirations of the Syrian people as a minimum,” Halqi said.
The prime minister said the UN is only working with the High Negotiations Committee opposition, the so-called Riyadh delegation, and is not seriously cooperating with other delegations.
“Saudi Arabia and Turkey dominate over the so-called Riyadh delegation [HNC], and the UN has so far not seriously cooperated with the other delegations of the opposition,” Halqi added.
