Bassma Kodmani (right) is seen with other members of the unified opposition delegation, officially known as the Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), as they arrive for the opening of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva on November 28, 2017. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
Bassma Kodmani (right) is seen with other members of the unified opposition delegation, officially known as the Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), as they arrive for the opening of UN-brokered peaceShow more

Syria opposition: Release of political prisoners would be 'game changer'



The release of Syrian political prisoners would be a "game changer" in resolving the conflict, a senior member of the Syrian opposition has told The National as the eighth round of UN-brokered peace talks continues in Geneva.

Human rights activists say that hundreds of thousands of political prisoners have disappeared in the Syrian prison system since the uprising against president Bashar Al Assad's rule began in 2011, and they suspect that many of those have been tortured to death or secretly killed.

"We were promised by Russia that the discussion on detainees would be conducted as a confidence-building measure in Astana and that it would follow [the de-escalation agreement] but in fact nothing has happened", Bassma Kodmani, who is part of the unified delegation representing the Syrian opposition in Geneva, told The National on Tuesday.

Ms Kodmani was referring to separate Syria peace talks held in the Kazakh capital of Astana between rebel-backed Turkey and regime allies Russia and Iran, which led to the establishment of so-called "de-escalation zones" — areas in Syria where fighting between regime forces and rebels was supposed to cease.

Russia has been heavily involved militarily in the Syrian conflict, helping the Assad regime to reverse its fortunes on the ground.

Ms Kodmani believes that Russia either “has not been able to convince or pressure the regime to release prisoners or it doesn’t have the intention of doing so”.

“Unfortunately we have not seen any progress over the last two years of negotiations. This is not an issue for negotiation, it’s an issue that is considered as a confidence-building measure,” she said, confirming that at least 100,000 people had been detained and some 200,000 people forcibly disappeared since 2011.

“When you count how many families are victims of detention and forced disappearance I think any country that genuinely wants want to see a political process make progress would focus today on the release of detainees.”

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Read more:

Editorial: Syrian regime mocks Geneva peace talks

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The government should start that process by revealing the fate of prisoners whose whereabouts is unknown and releasing those still alive but captured, Ms Kodmani said.

“We have not seen any of that happen and I think there is a reason we understand — that is the regime would find itself naked and under accusations for the terrible crimes it has committed.”

“The regime wants to continue on using humanitarian suffering as a weapon,” she added.

Ms Kodmani, who is a member of the main opposition grouping, the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said the issue of detainees “is the most painful for the opposition and the most embarrassing for the regime”.

The HNC, which is part of the unified opposition delegation sent to Geneva, has pushed for the need for confidence-building measures in order to create better conditions for a political process to resolve the conflict and a lasting ceasefire. These measures include the release of prisoners and hostages, the identification of missing persons and the deliverance of humanitarian aid.

“Confidence building has not been achieved in any way," Ms Kodmani said. "It has been very disappointing the fact that we have [besieged] areas that continue to suffer badly, portraying [that] the state of mind within the regime has not really changed.”

“There has been no progress on detainees and of lifting the siege on areas that is needed the most."

The latest round of UN-brokered negotiations kicked off on Tuesday in Geneva without Assad representatives present. The opposition delegation called for direct talks with the regime, as the United Nations said it had received assurances from the government that delegates would arrive in Geneva on Wednesday.

“The one and only strategy we have seen so far [by the regime] has been to stall any attempts to move into substantiate negotiations,” said Ms Kodmani.

Mr Al Assad’s government has been surprised and “disappointed because we can see that there is [now] a better international consensus on the need to have [a] serious credible process in Geneva”.

But for the Geneva talks to be given a real chance, the regime’s delegation is “required to come on time and to engage directly in talks and not doing that can only be explained by the fact that the regime is trying to buy time, that it doesn’t have an alternative strategy,”

“The regime has found different excuses so as not to engage in direct talks and so our demand has always been to engage in direct negotiations,” Ms Kodmani said.

The latest round of talks marks the first time that Syrian opposition groups have sent a unified delegation to represent them.

Ms Kodmani said this meant the opposition was now in a better position: “Today we have a stronger position as opposition; the regime was always using the pretext that the opposition was divided and there was no one to talk as one credible opposition.”

Now, however, “we have documents that we have worked on together which are consensual and I think the international community will be surprised to see that there is so much common ground”.

Ms Kodmani also said the unified opposition delegation had been "very careful" to involve representatives of Syria's armed opposition groups, which she said was "the safest way to make sure that any political agreement that we reach here in Geneva will be implementable on the ground”.

"These are groups who are committed to a political settlement and who are committed to abide by it," she said.

"They are committed to that, so we want them on board, they are on board and nothing is happening without them approving of it."

Also on Tuesday, the UN's special envoy to Syria and mediator at the talks, Staffan de Mistura, said government forces had agreed to a two-day ceasefire in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of east Damascus where more than 100 people have been killed by two weeks of aerial bombardment that undermined a Russian plan to de-escalate fighting in the country.

“The Russians clearly wanted to firstly get a cooling down of the conflict and secondly freeze the fighting and move into a political process — that is our intention as well,” Ms Kodmani said, adding that this was what the HNC wanted also.

“We may not agree on what are the terms for these negotiations to take place, but at least there was some agreement between the groups on the ground as well as Russia that a de-escalation zone should take place,” she said.

Eastern Ghouta is located in one of the four de-escalation zones established under a deal brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey earlier this year.

“I think Russia knows, however, that these de-escalation agreements are not sustainable over time without a political process and settlement,” Ms Kodmani said.

She urged Moscow to move forward in the political process in a way that at least “satisfies the minimal requirement on the opposition side”.

“I think that is where pressure lies on Russia today to put pressure on the regime to have political progress. I think that’s why Russia supports the Geneva process this time.”

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

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The biog

Age: 32

Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.

Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas

Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6

Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm

Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km

Price: Dh375,000 

On sale: now 

Overview

What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.

When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.

Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.

Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.

Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site

The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

MATCH DETAILS

Manchester United 3

Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)

Partizan Belgrade 0

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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The biog

Favourite food: Fish and seafood

Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends

Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!

Favourite country to visit: Italy

Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Family: We all have one!

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
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All or Nothing

Amazon Prime

Four stars

MATCH INFO

Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai