‘Slim chance,’ Rouhani says as Syria peace talks kick off

Snubbed Iranian president pessimistic Geneva II conference will produce end to bloody conflict

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a news conference at the Millennium Hotel in midtown Manhattan in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2013. (photo credit: AP/John Minchillo)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a news conference at the Millennium Hotel in midtown Manhattan in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2013. (photo credit: AP/John Minchillo)

TEHRAN, Iran  — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said he believes there is little hope of success for the Syrian peace talks.

Rouhani’s remarks came as an international conference to try and resolve Syria’s civil war started Wednesday in the Swiss resort of Montreux.

Later this week in Geneva, Syria’s warring sides will sit down for their first face-to-face meeting since the conflict erupted in 2011.

According to the presidential website, president.ir, Rouhani said hopes are slim because some of the countries attending the talks “are behind instability” in Syria.

Rouhani spoke in the wake of a diplomatic snub to Iran after the UN withdrew its invitation to Tehran to attend the talks.

Iran has been Syrian President Bashar Assad’s main regional ally and a staunch supporter of his government.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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