Syria war: Will Vienna talks signal compromise over Assad? Bridget Kendall

Diplomatic correspondent Published duration 30 October 2015 Related Topics Syrian civil war

image copyright AP image caption The main sticking point will be the future role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

These Vienna talks for the first time include all the external countries involved in the Syria conflict ­including, crucially, Iran.

But none of the groups fighting on the ground have been invited.

So absent from the talks will be both the Assad government and the Syrian political opposition, as well as the myriad other rebel militias fighting the Assad regime.

Syria's Kurds won't be present, and of course jihadist militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) won't be either.

But the hope is that if outside powers can bridge their differences, it could be a first step towards influencing at least some of the warring sides.

And some things have changed since the last abortive diplomatic push to end Syria's war: Iran's nuclear deal has made it a more acceptable partner to the United States and its allies.

image copyright AP image caption US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US is intensifying diplomatic efforts to end the "hell" of Syria's civil war

Russia has more incentive to push for peace: to keep its military involvement in Syria limited.

The mounting refugee crisis has increased pressure on Syria's neighbours and on European countries too.

And there is growing alarm at the way IS militants keep extending their reach.

The focus (not for the first time) will be on how to agree a political process, including changes to Syria's constitution and new elections, to open the door to a broader transition.

The main sticking point remains President Bashar al-Assad's role, and whether he should be allowed to stay or at some point be forced to stand down.

image copyright Reuters image caption The flow of Syrian refugees into Europe has put pressure on leaders to help establish a peace process

So where do the most important countries attending the Vienna talks now stand?

The United States and other Western powers (who held a pre-meeting in Paris to present a united front in Vienna) have shifted slightly recently.

They no longer say Mr Assad must go as soon as possible, but rather that a transition must guarantee that he departs under a precise timetable.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which had been insistent Mr Assad must go, may also be softening their position somewhat. The Saudi foreign minister on Wednesday still insisted he must step down, but within a specific time frame.

image copyright Reuters image caption A field hospital in Douma was allegedly bombed by forces loyal to the Syrian regime on Thursday

But Russia and Iran, both backing President Assad militarily, claim he is a necessary partner in the fight against IS jihadists, and whether he stays or goes is not a matter for outside powers, but for the Syrian people to decide in elections.

What is less clear is whether behind the scenes they are prepared to be more flexible, or less.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denounced elected leaders being ousted under pressure. He recently invited Mr Assad to Moscow to show him his support. But senior Russian officials have usually been careful to offer support to Syria's legitimate government, rather than Mr Assad himself.

So would Russia support a compromise?

Iran meanwhile has said there is no reason for Mr Assad to go, since he won re-election last year and his term should last until 2021. Will Tehran make him staying in power a red line?

image copyright Reuters image caption More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured as a result of the conflict

If there were no agreement in Vienna it would not be surprising, but it could also be dangerous. The Saudi government said it was coming to see if Russia and Iran were serious about a peace process, and if not, it would know not to waste time on them.