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February 2nd, 2016 
Awake Goy 
nsnbc : As Superpowers and regional powers struggle for influence, the initial stages of the Geneva III Talks on Syria focused, among others, on the participation of representatives of the Al-Qaeda linked Jaysh al-Islam and Syrian Kurds.
A representative of the Al-Qaeda linked Jaysh Al-Islam, Mohamed Alloush, is participating in the Geneva III Talks on Syria as a member of the “opposition’s” High Negotiations Committee (HNC).
Alloush’s and Jaysh al-Islam’s participation in the talks has been sharply criticized by the governments of Syria and Russia as well as by a cohort of Syrian civil society organizations. Jaysh al-Islam was formed as a coalition of foreign-backed Al-Qaeda franchises including Liwa-al-Islam.
The latter, and its now deceased leader Zahran Alloush, who had been on the payroll of Saudi Intelligence since the 80s were directly responsible for the chemical weapons attack on East Ghouta, Damascus, in August 2013.
Moscow is, for its part, pushing for a place for the Kurdish Democratic Union (YPG / PYG) at the negotiating table in Geneva. The demand is met with stern opposition from the Turkish government. The YPG / PYG is a traditional ally of Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been (more or less covertly) supported by the former Soviet Union since the mid-80s.
The Russian State news agency Tass quoted a statement made by Vitaly Naumkin on Tuesday. Namkin, the director of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies reportedly said:
“An element of bargaining is possible. … Russia’s position is rather tough. Organizations, which we consider to be terrorist, should not participate in the talks. They just should not be there. We do not feel like making any concessions so far. … For example, these people may announce that they have changed their platform and pledge that they will not call for creating a Caliphate, etc. … The Saudis keep saying that they [representatives of the Jaish al-Islam movement] have confirmed a certain evolution [in their stance] although it still seems to be quite doubtful.”
Naumkin added that the participation of Mohamed Alloush in the Geneva II talks opens an opportunity for Moscow to demand that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union also should be represented. Naumkin didn’t rule out that the involvement of Jaysh al-Islam members in the Geneva III talks could be a topic for discussion at the forthcoming International Syria Support Group in Munich, Germany, on February 11. Naumkin added:
“Our partners keep emphasizing that this group operates in southern Syria where moderate [Syrian] opposition is dominating. Therefore, everything there is allegedly all right and no one should be touched,” Naumkin told TASS. “In this respect, Jaish al-Islam may become a source for bargaining while we may come under certain pressure”.
Ahrar al-Sham, another insurgency, is according to Naumkin unlikely to participate in the Geneva III talks. Representatives of Ahrar al-Sham were present at the recent High Negotiations Committee meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh but refused to participate in the new round of talks.
F/AK – nsnbc 02.02.2016
Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/02/02/syria-talks-bargaining-about-good-and-bad-al-qaeda-and-kurds/
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