Scenes from the Syria peace talks in Montreux: You have already spoken for 20 minutes, the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon told the Syrian foreign minister, Walid Moallem. Mr. Secretary, the large, jowly Syrian official boomed. You have spoken for 25 minutes. I came here after 12 hours at the airplane. The Syrian delegation was still smarting after Greek airport crews kept them waiting on the tarmac, refusing to fill their planes fuel tanks. You live in New York. I live in Syria. I have the right to give the Syrian version here in this forum. After three years of suffering, this is my right. I am sure you have 10,000 stories to tell, Mr. Ban said. But, he pointed out, the other leaders had spoken for just seven minutes. And Mr. Moallem, he said, had already broken the promise all sides had given to refrain from inflammatory remarks, declaring that Saudi Arabias delegation had blood on its hand and that the Syrian insurgents were evil. Mr. Moallem continued for many more minutes. Keep your promise, one sentence, Mr. Ban implored. Syria always keeps its promise, Mr. Moallem said. Then he kept going.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:09:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015