With its invitation to Iran UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has snubbed the Syrian opposition and the United States. Nevertheless, the participation of the regime at the meeting in Montreux is important: Tehran has the strongest influence on Bashar al-Assad.

For nearly three years rages in Syria, a civil war, and the world looks largely impassively. But when put in this week, representatives of the government and opposition in Switzerland for the first time at the negotiating table, want to be there all at once with.

More than 30 states has loaded at the start of the so-called Geneva II conference on Wednesday to Montreux UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Even Australia, Greece, Luxembourg and Mexico send representatives to the meeting in Switzerland. To the contribution these countries to to stop the bloodshed in Syria, remains unclear. “The expanded international presence on this day will be an important and useful statement of solidarity,” Ban said flowery.

Syria Civil War:Officially, the formation of a transitional government is sought

After all, the participation of these countries between the Syrian conflict parties is acknowledged. Quite different is the situation with another government, which on Sunday invited the UN Secretary General to the kick-off meeting in Montreux: the Iranian regime. Tehran is next to Moscow ‘s main international ally of dictator Bashar al -Assad. For months, arguing the U.S. and Russia behind the scenes about whether and under what conditions Iran should attend the Geneva II conference .

Now, Ban has apparently decided on his own. “I have spoken in recent days extensively with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Sarif ,” said the UN Secretary General . “He has assured me that Iran – like all countries participating in Montreux at the inaugural meeting – . Acknowledges that the basis of calls for full implementation of the communiqué of 30 June 2012 ” I called Geneva – – At the meeting, one and a half years ago, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council agreed on , to strive for the formation of a transitional government.

Bank statement brings Iran’s President Hassan Rohani in a dilemma. On the one hand would be moving away from Assad hardliners within the Iranian regime – Ayatollah Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards – unthinkable. On the other hand, the participation in the Conference on Tehran , a further step from the international isolation. Therefore Foreign Minister Sharif is apparently ready to take the demands for a transitional government in Syria at least note without contradicting her open.

A loss of face should Iran by anyway not fear . Even the boldest optimists do not expect that the Syrian conflict parties will agree on a division of power. Two days before the meeting has dictator Assad once again made ​​it clear that he would continue to rule at any cost in Damascus. It is scheduled for June presidential election in June, he would run again , he announced in an interview on Monday . The suggestion that Syrian opposition members could participate in the government, he pointed back harshly : ” Such ideas are completely unrealistic , they can be regarded only as a joke. ”

On Wednesday in Montreux and on Friday in Geneva , it is therefore not so much to form a new government for Syria, but rather to bring even a political process . In the best case, both sides could agree on a ceasefire, which is at least respected in the country. Iran and Russia are the only two countries that could persuade Assad to give in a hesitant .

Tehran may have no interest to escalate a war on, is destabilizing the Middle East and strengthens the Sunni extremists of al – Qaeda. The rise of Islamic militants has already weakened the alliance with Iran government of Nouri al -Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq destabilized. The heavily armed and financed by the Islamic Republic Lebanese Hezbollah in the Syrian civil war on the side of Assad’s already lost more fighters than 2006 war against Israel. This wear is threatening the Iranian position of power in the region to weaken the long term.

Nevertheless, the Syrian regime is far from this conflict militarily to win and bring the country back under his control. Therefore Tehran Assad could convince at least a truce. Million people in need could benefit from it and are supplied with relief goods . For this reason, Iran’s participation in the Geneva II conference is important. Important always as the presence of government representatives from Athens or Mexico City.

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