Syria will allow the evacuation of women and children in the center of Homs

Question

The Syrian regime will allow the immediate departure of women and children from the center of the city of Homs, besieged for 18 months in the first agreement that comes with the opponents in the Geneva Summit II, which began on Wednesday with few expectations and hard mutual attacks. The first days of trading, which has mediated the UN special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, have focused on humanitarian issues. The regime has asked for a list of those civilians who remain in the besieged areas, the Syrian National Coalition opposition refuses to deliver, it could lead to retaliation in the future. In this context of mutual distrust, the two sides have made unexpected progress in a round of negotiations in principle last a week.

" We told the government side that women and children in the besieged area of Homs may leave immediately," Brahimi said Sunday at a news conference. He also expressed his wish that the humanitarian convoys to access that area immediately. This town was one of the centers of protest at the start of the revolt against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which began peacefully, with demonstrations, but soon found loads of security forces. They estimate that there are opponents in the Old City of Homs 500 families in dire need, with severe lack of food and medicine.

Deputy Syrian Foreign Faisal Mekdad also said in a press conference that "if armed terrorists in Homs allow women and children exit the Old City of Homs, let them pass, and not only that, they offer shelter, medications and everything they need. " The Syrian regime opponents often talk about the term "terrorists " but also implicitly referring Mekdad those jihadi militias not affiliated with the secular Syrian National Coalition operating in the rebel camp and will not accept a pact sealed in Geneva.

In order to reconcile positions, Brahimi decided that the early days of direct talks would focus on humanitarian issues. On Monday, both parties will to address political issues, especially how to apply the Geneva press I, agreed in June 2012 by the UN, the Arab League, the U.S. and Russia, among others. It is called a political transition in Syria as a condition for ending the conflict. Accept the principles of Geneva I was now required to participate in the Geneva Summit II. The regime, however, believes that circumstances have changed.

" I Geneva is not the Koran or the Gospel," said Sunday one of the emissaries of the regime and the Syrian presidential adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban. " Geneva I was issued in June 2012. This Monday we are in January 2014. The conditions on the ground have changed, "he said, Reuters reports. In summer of 2012 the Free Syrian Army took control of much of Aleppo, the largest city and industrial center in Syria and Assad 's fall seemed inevitable. In one year, the regime managed to regain ground and conquering Quseir besieging rebel areas in Homs and Damascus.

A pro-government has done the fragmentation of the opposition. On Monday, more than 100 rebel groups fighting in Syria. Many radical Islamist militias want to know nothing of international summits and whose only desire is to apply in areas that take their strict interpretation of Sharia or Islamic law. This was done in Raqqa, the provincial capital, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which has banned music on the streets and ads with pictures of people.

In Geneva II opponents have also demanded the release of 47,000 prisoners, 2,500 of them women and children, who are supposed to be in government prisons. The regime has also requested an inventory of persons detained by rebel groups affiliated to both the Free Syrian Army, the armed wing of the National Coalition, as other militias, including jihadists. Opponents have committed to develop the list, according to Sunday Brahimi.

And while the emissaries of both parties negotiate in Geneva in Syria war continues. This Sunday there was heavy fighting on the outskirts of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Six more people died in the refugee camp of Yarmouk, populated mostly Palestinians, under the regime under siege since July. Observers groups are already 75 -24 of them women and children killed by the food shortages.