Contrary to all prejudices of skeptics, the first phase of the negotiations on the Syrian issue, the Geneva-II conference did take place - though not as successful as most optimistic observers expected. However, the fact that the parties sat down at the negotiating table was already a breakthrough.

Sergei Demidenko, an expert of the Institute of Strategic Assessments and Analysis:

"The conference showed that opposition is willing to conduct the dialogue only to a certain extent. They take a radical position in the dialogue with the Syrian authorities, which primarily involves the removal of Bashar Assad from power and the reconstruction of the entire Syrian state system. The Syrian authorities share a completely different position. Bringing both of these concepts to a common denominator is now impossible, and the first stage of negotiations in Geneva showed that.

What the second stage will show is difficult to say. I think that the parties are not ready to change their views yet. The United States and Russia are developing new forms of dialogue with the involvement of Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. The format of the talks in Geneva is important and necessary, but, unfortunately, it has no prospects yet. To resolve the situation in Syria without the involvement of Iran is impossible. But since the opposition speaks strongly against any form of Iran's involvement in the Geneva conference, a productive dialogue will not take place. So the Americans are now developing a new form of these talks, with the participation of Iran. It is clear that the Syrian opposition says what Saudi Arabia tells them to say -- the country struggles with Iran in all possible regional directions."