Moscow Hints at ‘International Sponsorship’ to Guarantee Sochi Talks Success

Efforts are underway to ensure international sponsorship of the Sochi-hosted Syria talks in January. (AFP)
Efforts are underway to ensure international sponsorship of the Sochi-hosted Syria talks in January. (AFP)
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Moscow Hints at ‘International Sponsorship’ to Guarantee Sochi Talks Success

Efforts are underway to ensure international sponsorship of the Sochi-hosted Syria talks in January. (AFP)
Efforts are underway to ensure international sponsorship of the Sochi-hosted Syria talks in January. (AFP)

In a move that aims to convince some Syrian opposition parties that asked for international sponsorship as a condition to attend the Congress of Syrian Peoples in Sochi at the end of January, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov alluded on Monday that the Congress will be held under the patronage of the international community.

In an interview with Ria Novosti news agency, Bogdanov said that that the guarantor states on the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria, including Iran, Russia and Turkey, are holding consultations on the agenda of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

“Separate meetings with (head of the Syrian regime Bashar) Assad are currently being held,” the ministry official stated, adding that the opinion of the Western partners, including the US, will be taken into consideration on the issues which will be discussed at the Congress.

He said that Russia was even ready to invite the US to the Congress, “if Washington expresses its desire to participate.”

He added that the invitations to the Congress would be first sent to UN representatives to make clear that the entire operation is conducted under the patronage of the United Nations, and the support of the international community.

On Saturday, Bogdanov stressed that his country calls upon all Syrian parties to participate in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

Russia’s announcement deepened division among members of the Syrian opposition and divided it into two parties: the first refuses to participate in the Congress because Russia is a “partner in the war and cannot be objective,.”

The second asks for an international umbrella as a condition to attend the talks, describing its participation as a “support for the Geneva path and not a substitute for it.”

Political advisor to the High Negotiations Committee Namrud Suleiman told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that the UN and Russia had engaged in serious talks since last week concerning the Sochi meeting.

“I do not think Moscow will hold the Congress in the absence of international cover,” he said.



Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
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Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed

The Palestinian Authority said internet and fixed-line communication services were down in Gaza on Thursday following an attack on the territory's last fibre optic cable it blamed on Israel.

"All internet and fixed-line communication services in the Gaza Strip have been cut following the targeting of the last remaining main fibre optic line in Gaza," the PA's telecommunications ministry said in a statement, accusing Israel of attempting to cut Gaza off from the world, AFP reported.

"The southern and central Gaza Strip have now joined Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip in experiencing complete isolation for the second consecutive day," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that its maintenance and repair teams had been unable to safely access the sites where damage occurred to the fibre optic cable.

"The Israeli occupation continues to prevent technical teams from repairing the cables that were cut yesterday", it said, adding that Israeli authorities had prevented repairs to other telecommunication lines in Gaza "for weeks and months".

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the communication lines were "directly targeted by occupation forces".

It said the internet outage was hindering its emergency services by impeding communication with first responder teams in the field.

"The emergency operations room is also struggling to coordinate with other organisations to respond to humanitarian cases."

Maysa Monayer, spokeswoman for the Palestinian communication ministry, told AFP that "mobile calls are still available with very limited capacity" in Gaza for the time being.

Now in its 21st month, the war in Gaza has caused massive damage to infrastructure across the Palestinian territory, including water mains, power lines and roads.