Monday, January 20, 2014

UN Withdraws Invitation to Iran for Geneva II

The UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has withdrawn his invitation to Iran to join this week’s Syria peace talks, the so-called Geneva II. The secretary general voiced his deep disappointment by Iran’s statement earlier today concerning Geneva II conference. (AP, 20 January)

The invitation was withdrawn shortly after Iran’s ambassador to the UN announced that Iran would not attend Geneva II if required to accept the Geneva I agreement of 2012.

A UN spokesman said senior Iranian officials have assured the Secretary General that Iran understood the terms of his invitation.

Meanwhile, the Syrian National Coalition announced that it will take part in Geneva II after the UN withdrew its invitation to Iran.


Photo credit: The UN Security Council, Monday 20 January 2014. (Craig Ruttle/AP)

2 comments:

Mark Pyruz said...

One wonders if the Syrian exile groups threat to boycott was the more forceful factor in this withdrawal, or the Iranian statement not embracing a previous communique it had no part in generating.

Still, its silly having a conference without Iran, and without the main belligerent fighting forces waging war against Syria.

Anonymous said...

it's not at all silly having the conference without Iran. Iran is butt the tail thinking it can wag the dog.

bombs are coming to Lebanese Hezbollah's neighborhood and may soon become a part of daily life in Tehran. things can get serious silly for arrogant tails