Russia is broadening the circle of participants, bringing in those who have been overlooked in the Geneva process.
“As a result of this congress, we think that the United Nations will thank us, because we will seriously expand their opportunities, expand the circle of participants, so that the constitutional reform and the subsequent rules for holding elections are indeed those that enjoy the support of the entire Syrian people,” and not just those who have attended UN-led peace efforts in Geneva, Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow on Monday
Sochi is markedly different from the Geneva and Astana processes in that the ruling Kurdish party in Rojava, northern Syria will attend, at the invitation of Moscow.
“Kurds are part of the Syrian nation and their interests should be taken into consideration, including in preparation for the [Syrian National Dialogue Congress],” Lavrov said.
Aldar Khalil, co-president of the executive body of the ruling Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) in the self-autonomous Kurdish enclave of Rojava, northern Syria, confirmed to Reuters last week that they were invited to the Sochi congress “and we might take part in the show but it will not succeed.”
He questioned how much could be accomplished with many delegates in a two-day conference to resolve the root causes of nearly seven years of civil war that has fractured the country.
The Sochi congress will take place on January 29 and 30, hosted by Russia with Iran and Turkey.
Turkey has objected to the inclusion of the Kurdish party. Ankara insists they are extensions of the PKK, a named terrorist organization. The Syrian Kurdish groups deny the charge.
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