Head of Syrian opposition out of Geneva II talks

Head of the National Coalition for the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSROF) Ahmad al-Jarba has left Geneva, a well-informed diplomatic source said, while other sources said he has been fired from the talks by the UN due to his "too aggressive and provocative" remarks. According to reports of opposition sources on January 24, Head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSROF) Ahmad al-Jarba has left Geneva and Secretary General Badr Jamus will become chief negotiator in dialogue with Syrian government delegation in Geneva II, but some sources stressed that "he didn't leave the peace talks, rather he was fired by the UN after his provocative remarks about the Syrian government". The participants in the fragile Syrian peace conference agreed to meet in the same room for the first time in a last ditch agreement that averted a potential collapse. Now Secretary General Badr Jamus will become chief negotiator in the talks with the Syrian government delegation in Geneva, according to the opposition sources. "Secretary General of the NCSROF Badr Jamous is entitled to hold negotiations on behalf of the Syrian opposition," the sources told Al-Alam news network. Earlier, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov expressed his confidence that Ahmad al-Jarba would lead the opposition delegation. "We heard American partners and other partners to say al-Jarba to lead the opposition delegation. The talks should be held at the level of deputies delegation head, i.e. at the expert level. So, we knew that al-Jarba would lead the opposition delegation in Geneva," the Russian diplomat said. Commenting on the format of the Geneva talks, the diplomat said, "The first stage of the talks will last for a week. Then the delegations may return to Damascus and report the leadership on the results. Afterwards they return back." Answering a question if the opposition delegation can refuse to take part in the talks due to al-Jarba's departure, Bogdanov said he did not rule out that any party "can stop the talks. This is on anyone's conscience." The departure of Jarba is a clear message over the absence of any serious step by the foreign backed militant groups over stopping the bloodshed within Syria.