Syria regime blamed for failure of Geneva talks

Saudi Arabia, a supporter of the Syrian opposition, blamed Bashar Assad’s regime on Monday for the failure of the recent Geneva II peace talks held in Switzerland.
A second round of US and Russian-backed peace talks between regime representatives and the opposition broke down on Saturday in the Swiss city. No date has been set for a third round.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Second Deputy Premier Prince Muqrin, “regretted the failure of the Geneva II talks to reach tangible results,” SPA reported quoting Health Minister and Acting Information Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
Saudi Arabia “holds the (Syrian) regime responsible for this failure, caused by its intransigence,” the Cabinet said, accusing the regime’s delegation of working to “derail the conference.”
Saudi Arabia is a major backer of the Syrian rebels in a conflict that is estimated to have killed more than 140,000 people since it erupted in March 2011.
The Cabinet wished success for Crown Prince Salman during his current visits to Pakistan, Japan, India, and the Maldives, adding that the royal visits were in continuation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s approach to promote contacts with world leaders.
The Cabinet praised the Prince Sultan Qur’an and Sunnah Competition for ASEAN and Pacific Countries in Jakarta, while thanking Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for patronizing it closing ceremony.
The Cabinet also expressed its thanks for the guests of the National Heritage and Culture Festival in Janadriyah for their appreciation of the Kingdom for giving an opportunity to writers and intellectuals to present their views through its cultural programs.
It also reviewed the first conference of business schools of GCC universities, whose opening was patronized by Prince Muqrin, and said it would contribute to the process of integration and promotion of joint GCC action.
The Cabinet emphasized the Kingdom’s distinguished relations with Lebanon, expressing hope that the formation of the new Lebanese government headed by Tammam Salam would boost the country’s stability and prosperity.
The Cabinet endorsed an agreement with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth for hosting its headquarters in Riyadh.
It also approved the statute of the Arab Union for Natural Reserves, which was passed by the Arab League Ministerial Council on March 10, 2012.
The Cabinet approved a new system to ensure transparency, accountability and verification of the effectiveness of government agencies in the use of funds allocated to them and achieve the best results for each expenditure.
It authorized the minister of housing to sign a cooperation agreement with South Korea. It appointed Abdulmohsen Al-Faris, Abdullah Al-Fawzan, and Ibrahim Balghunaim members of Technical and Vocational Training Corporation’s board for three years, representing the private sector. It also renewed Samir Al-Tebayeb’s membership to the board.
The Cabinet appointed Talal bin Abduljalil Barri ambassador, Saleh bin Abdulkarim Al-Sheiha minister plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Abdullah bin Moussa Al-Tayer undersecretary for educational affairs at the Ministry of Higher Education; Mutlaq bin Dughaim Al-Khamaali director-general of health in the Riyadh region; Abdulaziz bin Othman Al-Shabanat adviser at the Ministry of Civil Service; and Abdullatif bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh legal adviser at the Supreme Judiciary Council.