ASTANA — Syrian government and opposition delegates hadn't yet met face-to-face in Astana, when the government's delegate to the talks, Bashar al-Jaafari, called opposition groups "armed terrorist groups" and "not professionals in politics."
This came after a joint meeting on Monday morning between Syrian opposition group delegates, and Russian and Turkish negotiators.
Jaafari, who is also Syria's representative to the United Nations, was interviewed after the first session.
"Some of these participants and namely speaking the delegations of the terrorist armed groups gave its own interpretation — or misinterpretation — of these agreements and went beyond the framework of these agreements," Jaafari said. "And that created a problem for all of the participants."
"These people are not professionals in politics. And they don't adhere to the level of the event. Their speech is provocative, unrealistic, unpragmatic and will lead nowhere. They are trying to halt and hinder the talks, but we have said we will not be provoked. We will not be a part of a scenario that leads to the failure of these meetings.
"You know who their funders and supporters are."
The Astana talks were billed as peace negotiations brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran between the Syrian government and opposition factions.
Jaafari added that the agenda for the next meeting on Monday was not complete, but talks would continue.
This came after a joint meeting on Monday morning between Syrian opposition group delegates, and Russian and Turkish negotiators.
Jaafari, who is also Syria's representative to the United Nations, was interviewed after the first session.
"Some of these participants and namely speaking the delegations of the terrorist armed groups gave its own interpretation — or misinterpretation — of these agreements and went beyond the framework of these agreements," Jaafari said. "And that created a problem for all of the participants."
Jaafari accused the opposition groups of discussing the Syrian army's actions to secure Ain al-Fijah, a town which supplies Damascus with water, and is under the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and outside of the scope of the Astana talks.
"The delegation of the armed terrorist groups did not keep with the provisions of the agreement on the basis of which we came to Astana," Jaafari added.
"These people are not professionals in politics. And they don't adhere to the level of the event. Their speech is provocative, unrealistic, unpragmatic and will lead nowhere. They are trying to halt and hinder the talks, but we have said we will not be provoked. We will not be a part of a scenario that leads to the failure of these meetings.
"You know who their funders and supporters are."
The Astana talks were billed as peace negotiations brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran between the Syrian government and opposition factions.
Jaafari added that the agenda for the next meeting on Monday was not complete, but talks would continue.
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