In an open letter to Staffan de Mistura, the UN’s Syrian Special Envoy, a coalition of 160 Syrian civil society groups have voiced concerns that their peace talks are failing due to external influence from foreign nations. The letter reveals a deep-seated frustration with the UN’s peace processes as several discussions have been had in Geneva, but “many members of civil society are troubled by some international actors’ attempts to dictate who sits around the negotiation table,” the letter says. The talks have included major regional actors including the Saudis, Turkish, Jordanians, Qataris, Iranians, and other world powers, such as Russia, China, and the United States. The letter suggests that attempts to mould the outcome by Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the Gulf State have hindered peace-making proceedings.

De Mistura, a retired Italian-Swedish diplomat known for his innovative and empathetic understanding of conflict, was asked to be the UN’s special envoy for Syria in 2014. Since then, de Mistura has undertaken the task of overseeing the divided groups, with his primary aim being to bring the warring parties into some form of conversation. This would be no easy feat as, at least, half a dozen nations are involved in the Syrian case, and those involved remain deeply divided. For example, China and Russia back the government led by Bashar al-Assad, whereas the US, UK, and France support a collection of opposition groups, the Syrian National Coalition. Meanwhile, De Mistura’s predecessors, Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi, both resigned in frustration at the situation as neither the Assad Regime or the opposition would demonstrate any willingness to compromise or negotiate.

The groups seem most agitated by the increasing influence of the Russian voice in proceedings. They believe that due to Russia’s dominant forces, both on and off the ground, they have been granted more influence and have subsequently dominated the talks. Furthermore, Russia backs Assad both politically and with military support. To expand, Russia’s influence in Syria goes all the way back to the 1970s, when they originally granted Syria aid and arms. Since the expansion of their military under President Vladimir Putin, they have been flexing their newly built military muscle. For instance, Richard Reeve, Director of the Sustainable Security Programme at the Oxford Research Group describes Russia’s involvement as “a theatre to test out their military equipment and doctrine,”  and that “this gives the military real war experience – for their own confidence – and it sends a message to the rest of the world that Russia is a capable, modern military player.” This, in itself, is a dismissive attitude to the lives at stake in the Syrian war and the Civilian Society Groups are outraged at this approach to their country.

In fact, the groups emphasize that “For the Geneva process to be truly inclusive and Syrian led it must serve the Syrian people’s aspirations first and foremost for a transition towards a democratic and free Syria.” As well, they have called for processes that suit the interests of the Syrian people, rather than being dictated by powerful external actors. Moreover, as political transition has been confirmed as the principal aim of the Geneva purpose, the UN needs to listen intently to the concerns of the civil society groups, as if they withdrew, some of the key negotiators may follow suit, giving the procedure even less credibility.

Nonetheless, one of the fundamental obstacles underlying these proceedings is that the warring parties and those international overseers who are undertaking a proxy war, have no desire to stop conflict as both believe they can win and any impartial stance provided by the UN is simply insulting to their purposes. However, with over 230,000 dead, and with chlorine attacks and barrel bombs continuing to jeopardize the lives of civilians, this is a harrowing aspect to undoubtedly difficult circumstances.

As such, de Mistura faces the formidable task of bringing not only both parties to a reconciliation, but also their international backers. He, more than anyone else, understands that these proceedings have the potential to change lives, and every minute undecided is another in which Syria remains at war.