Syrians pin hopes on Geneva conference for end to suffering

DAMASCUS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite dwindling chances of success, the forthcoming Geneva conference remain crucial for the Syrians as most of them pin hopes on the peace talks for a beginning of an end to their suffering.

Media reports said the conference is initially set for July 8, noting, however, the date will be finalized on June 25 during a tripartite meeting of the UN, Russia and the United States in Geneva.

The conference is expected to bring together the Syrian government and opposition in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the 27-month-long crisis and delineate its first step, which probably includes forming a transitional government.

Syrians are cautiously optimistic about the conference, hoping it would bring an end to their suffering and set their life back to normal.

Samira, a mother of two kids, went through immense ordeal in the past two years as her husband and children survived several bombings that killed tens of Syrians and maimed scores others.

She had been doing her best to help her kids in their school work because she did not want them to suffer academic loss as many Syrian children had done.

"I used to be in a state of anxiety from the moment they leave home till they come back, looking out of the window and praying for them all the time," she said. "It was a terrible feeling."

She said two bombs had gone off near her husband's shop and another near her kids' school. "I cannot take experiences like this any more; I will leave Syria if the conflict goes on (after the peace conference)," she said.

Samira's concerns are shared by many other Syrian families, who have the same worries about their children's future and safety, especially after violence reached the capital Damascus, which used remained relatively calm despite a handful of explosions.

"I am awaiting the outcome of the conference and will decide what to do after that," said Kenaz Hafar, a secretary at a private company and a mother of three children, fearing the country will slide into even worse chaos if the conference fails.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with his British counterpart William Hague Wednesday in Washington on Syria when efforts are being exerted to organize the Geneva conference,

While the Syrian government has confirmed its attendance, skepticisms are running high about whether the peace talks can ever take place, as the opposition is still unable to close ranks on its participation.

Hague said since the Syrian troops had made progress in the battlefield, the Syrian government is likely to stack up its leverage in negotiating any deal with the opposition, and that consequently it will be very difficult to organize the conference, let alone making it a success

"The regime will likely be less willing to make enough concessions during these negotiations, and persuading the opposition to participate in the negotiations has become more difficult," Hague said.

Haitham al-Maleh, a Syrian opposition figure, casts doubts on the convening of the conference. "Those who call for the conference are divided more than the Syrian opposition itself, which they have said is not ready for reaching a settlement to the conflict."

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