BICOM

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday formally invited delegates to the Geneva II conference later this month, which aims to reach a peace settlement in Syria.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq confirmed that Iran was not among those invited, but added that “The secretary-general is in favour of inviting Iran.” In talks between the UN, Russia and the United States to decide on who would attend the talks, it was agreed that all delegations must accept the principles of a communiqué issued after the first Geneva peace conference in June 2012, which included recognition of the Syrian opposition in any transitional government. US Secretary of State John Kerry commented, “If Iran doesn’t support that, it’s difficult to see how they are going to be a ministerial partner in the process.”

The United States has also objected to Iranian support for Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which has fought side by side Assad’s troops during the bitter Syrian Civil War. However, Kerry conceded that “there are ways for them [Iran], conceivably” to “contribute from the sidelines,” given Iran’s close relationship with Assad. Apparently, two dozen foreign ministers will gather in Geneva on 22 January, two days before UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi presides over talks between delegations representing Assad and the opposition, which is fighting his rule.

During the past few weeks, violence from the Syrian conflict has increasingly spilled over into neighbouring Lebanon, with growing tension between the country’s Sunni population which identifies with the Syrian opposition and supporters of Hezbollah which directly supports Assad. Deadly car bombs have exploded on several occasions in Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut and in November, a massive bomb attack struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, leaving at least 23 people dead. The perpetrators cited Hezbollah and Iranian involvement in Syria as the reason behind the attack.

Meanwhile, Ynet reports this morning that students at a school in northern Israel have collected 100kg of warm clothes and blankets which will be delivered to Syrian refugees.