ISTANBUL // The agreement by world powers on a transitional government for Syria is unlikely to stop the fighting because the plan lacks clarity and because both sides are looking for a decision on the battlefield, analysts say.
At a conference in Geneva, requested by Kofi Annan, the joint special envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, western powers as well as Russia and China called for a transitional government in Syria after 16 months of violence that has left nearly 20,000 people dead, according to the opposition. But the meeting on Saturday did not spell out whether Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian president, or members of his government could be part of the proposed transitional leadership of the country.
"It is hard to see anything concrete coming out of this," Veysel Ayhan, the chairman of the International Middle East Peace Research Centre (IMPR), a think tank in Ankara, said yesterday. "The problem is that both sides are not looking for an agreement at the moment, but want to continue fighting. Clashes will increase."
Seda Altug, a Syria specialist at Istanbul's Bosphorus University, also said a lack of details in the agreement about a transition meant that the conflict was unlikely to be resolved soon.
"It was quite vague, nothing concrete, no road map, it's like escaping into the forest," Ms Altug said about the Geneva agreement yesterday. She said while the Al Assad regime was unwilling to negotiate with the opposition and ready to talk only with groups "they have appointed themselves", the armed rebels were still trying to convince the Syrian government and the outside world that they mattered militarily.
"They want to prove they are a force to be reckoned with," she said about rebels fighting against government troops. The fact that international powers were shunning radical steps for Syria "leads to a prolongation of the armed conflict".
Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, called the Geneva agreement a "first step", and a Turkish government source said it was positive that Russia had committed itself to a political transition in Syria.
But Mr Davutoglu added the Syrian regime was turning into a threat for the stability of the whole region, according to news reports. "Determined steps are needed to counter this. Determined decisions have to be reflected on the ground. We will be watching."
William Hague, the British foreign minister, also underlined that the Geneva agreement alone would not be enough. "Only a start, need to follow up & implement," he wrote on Twitter.
In a sign of heightened tensions on Syria's borders, Turkey's military said yesterday fighter jets had scrambled after Syrian helicopters approached the border area in three separate incidents on Saturday.
It was the first time the Turkish armed forces implemented a new policy by Ankara that says every movement by Syrian military units close to the border would be seen as a threat, following the downing of a Turkish military surveillance aircraft by Syria on June 23.
Neither side in the Syrian conflict signalled a willingness to heed Mr Annan's appeal "to come to a political agreement" along the lines drawn by international powers in Geneva. The conference chaired by Mr Annan called for a transitional government that could include members of the current Syrian government, the opposition and other groups. That government would oversee the drafting of a new constitution, as well as elections.
Mr Al Assad rejected all efforts by the international community to design a political solution, telling Iranian television he would not accept a "non-national model".
Mahmut Osman, Turkey representative of the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group, said it was unthinkable for him to form a new government with representatives of the Al Assad administration.
"With 20,000 people killed and 30,000 people missing, you cannot sit at a table with the regime. Why should the Syrian people bear sacrifices like this only to sit at a table with them in the end?"
Mr Ayhan of the IMPR think tank said the West had made concessions to the Russian position at the Geneva talks by not insisting on Mr Al Assad's resignation as a precondition for any solution. "Assad has gained time," Mr Ayhan said. "Many points were left open in Geneva."
He added the Turkish government was right to be sceptical about the outcome of the conference. "How will all this be implemented?"
Ms Altug said the Geneva agreement had papered over deep differences between world powers. Referring to demands by western powers that Mr Al Assad should resign and Russia's refusal to accept a resignation of the regime as a precondition, Ms Altug said that basic rift resulted in the Geneva agreement expressing only "the lowest common denominator".
tseibert@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
INDIA%20SQUAD
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
RESULTS
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