The talks stem from an agreement reached in Vienna in November by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), comprising the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries including the United States and Russia, as part of an effort to end the war with an agreement on new governance, a new constitution and new elections.
Key opposition members refused to take part in the talks – which were due to begin on January 29 — until an agreement is reached on aid entering besieged towns. Their absence has threatened to derail the talks, which are brokered by the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee.
However, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Sunday:
"We, together with Saudi Arabia, will continue to support [the] moderate opposition in Syria."
His admission throws into doubt any possibility of trust being built up among any participants in the negotiations.
They were already stumbling after de Mistura conceded that the negotiations would take place on a day-by-day basis with different parties attending separately, as round-table talks were not possible. De Mistura told Swiss television RTS.
"If there is a failure this time after we tried twice at conferences in Geneva, for Syria there will be no more hope."
