Introduction to the evening news 08-02-2012

Homs is under heavy shelling for the fifth consecutive day while the Arab and Western efforts to solve the crisis maintain varying perspectives and even opposing points of view, effectively canceling out their efforts.

The Russian stance does not conform with the Arab initiative or to Turkish pressures, allowing the Syrian regime to tighten its grip on the Syrian opposition, creating an opportunity to annihilate it. How were the stances divided today?

Russia is seeking a national dialogue between the opposition and the regime without setting a time or place. On the other hand, the Russians are trying to convince Western governments to put pressure on the Syrian opposition to accept Assad’s invitation to a round table discussion.  

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe described the promises made by President Assad to the Russians as being “political manipulations” as he believed that Assad was never sincere about reforms from the beginning of the crackdown.

Sources in the French foreign ministry revealed that it is possible that the international community may reach an agreement on Syria in the next 48 hours.  

Turkey launched a diplomatic offensive against Russia led by FM Davutoglu who revealed that Turkey is ready to host an international conference to support the Syrian people, and to send a message to President Assad to halt an 11-month crackdown on his opponents.  

On the ground, diplomacy falls on deaf ears as the military continues its campaign to find its own solution.