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WORLD NEWSFriday 22 January 2016
Kerry says Syria peace talks may be delayed by a day or 2
MATTHEW LEE es over which Syrian op- agreed that the Syria talks is envisioned to take effect which back Syrian Presi-
AP Diplomatic Writer position groups would be should not be postponed once the negotiations be- dent Bashar Assad, have
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — eligible to attend the talks. until next month. But both gin. immense differences with
Next week’s planned start It was not clear whether sides said there was still The negotiations are the Saudi Arabia, other Arab
of Syria peace talks may progress was made in re- work to do on determining first step in a U.N.-endorsed states, the United States
be delayed by “a day or and Europe over which op-
two” for logistical reasons, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about position groups should be
but the process will begin Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland, before attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. Kerry’s trip is considered terrorists.
roughly on time, U.S. Secre- expected to last nine days and to encompass stops in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Cambo- One dispute is over the
tary of State John Kerry said dia, and China. groups Ahrar-as-Sham and
Thursday. Jaish al-Islam. Russia and
Kerry said any delay in the (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) Syria consider terrorists; Sau-
U.N.-led negotiations would di Arabia, the United States
be due to sending out in- solving the issue, which has which opposition groups 18-month political transition and others view as legiti-
vitations to participants. threatened to delay the are deemed terrorist or- plan for Syria aimed at end- mate opposition groups.
Kerry met earlier with the talks. ganizations and therefore ing the nearly five-year civil Iranian Foreign Minister Mo-
U.N. special envoy for Syria, After that meeting, Lavrov ineligible for the peace war. hammad Javad Zarif said
Staffan de Mistura, who is to said the U.S. and Russia talks and a cease-fire that Russia and Iran, countries Thursday that only three
convene the talks between groups are now on the ter-
the Syrian government and rorist list: the Islamic State
the opposition on Monday group, al-Qaida-affiliate al-
in Geneva. Nusra and al-Qaida itself.
“When you say a delay, it Those groups had been
may be a day or two for identified as terrorist orga-
invitations but there is not nizations from the start of
going to be a fundamental the international process to
delay,” Kerry told report- get the peace talks started,
ers as he sat down to meet meaning consensus on any
with Israeli Prime Minister others remains elusive.
Benjamin Netanyahu at Kerry is due to visit Saudi
the World Economic Forum. Arabia this weekend to pur-
“The process will begin on sue the matter.
the 25th and they will get At their meeting, Kerry and
together and see where Netanyahu tried to play
we are.” down tensions that have
Kerry met Russian Foreign flared between the United
Minister Sergey Lavrov in States and Israel recently
Zurich on Wednesday in a over the implementation of
bid to overcome differenc- the Iran nuclear deal and
U.S. criticism of Israeli policy
Iran’s president seeks more free and fair election in the West Bank.
Netanyahu’s office re-
NASSER KARIMI running in the Feb. 26 vote. population in Iran numbers tional watchdog to reverse sponded angrily to criticism
Associated Press Rouhani said that “the Par- less than 500,000 — have its decision to disqualify of Israeli settlements raised
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s liament is the house of the four members in parlia- the in large numbers. From on Monday in a speech by
president lobbied on Thurs- people, not a particular ment in total, larger groups over 12,000 hopefuls who the U.S. ambassador to Isra-
day for more free and fair faction.” should also be represented. had applied to run, around el, saying it was “unaccept-
elections in Iran, saying Rouhani, who took office “What about a faction that 4,700 have been approved able and untrue” as well as
moderate and reformist on a pledge to bring about has up to 10 million sup- by the Guardian Council inappropriate at a time of
political factions should reforms, said elections are porters,” Rouhani asked in that vets candidates. heightened violence with
also be allowed to run in pointless if there are “no a reference to estimated While some hard-liners and the Palestinians.
next month’s parliamenta- competitors” and that the number of supporters to conservatives have also Shortly after the meeting,
ry elections. upcoming balloting will be moderates and reformists. been barred, reformists Kerry tweeted that he had
Hassan Rouhani’s speech, “the most important job “We hope all factions will have been most affected. “stressed importance of
which was broadcast on ahead” that will reflect on be able to send their rep- Many were disqualified be- strengthening” Israel’s se-
state TV, was a stab at his administration. resentatives to the parlia- cause they were not seen curity and the Palestinian
Iran’s constitutional watch- He said that while religious ment,” he added. to be sufficiently loyal to economy and had con-
dog, which has disqualified and other minorities — such Rouhani spoke a day after the ruling system, as de- demned recent Israeli-Pal-
large numbers of moder- as Jews, Christians and Zo- Iran’s reformist political fac- fined by hard-line council estinian violence.q
ates and reformists from roastrians whose combined tions called on the constitu- members.q
