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Executive Summary for October 31st

To give you an overview of the latest news, we’ve organized the latest Syrian developments in a curated summary. .

Published on Oct. 31, 2013 Read time Approx. 2 minutes

Syria Destroys Chemical Arms Production. Syria’s government has met a key deadline for “the functional destruction” of all chemical weapons production and mixing facilities declared to inspectors, “rendering them inoperable,” the New York Times reports.

“The joint mission is now satisfied that it has verified – and seen destroyed – all of Syria’s declared critical production and mixing/filling equipment,” said the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in a statement.

“Given the progress made,” it said, “no further inspection activities are currently planned.”

Syrian Peace Talks Face Delay, May Not Convene November 23. The failure of the Syrian National Coalition to take a clear stance over the talks is expected to contribute to a delay of up to one month, Reuters reports.

“A clearer picture will emerge when the United States and Russia meet next week, but all indications show that the November 23 goal will be difficult to meet,” the wire service reported, citing an official involved in preparing for the talks.

“A main point of contention, the official said, is the role of the Western-backed opposition coalition – an issue which has flared up since a meeting in London last week of Western and Gulf Arab countries opposed to Assad,” according to the report. Alongside the disarray of the political opposition, the armed opposition – rebel fighters on the ground – have rejected Geneva II peace talks as treason.

As for the regime camp, President Bashar al-Assad says there will be no Syrian peace without an end to foreign support for the rebels. 

“For any political solution to be successful, it is crucial to halt support for terrorist groups and the countries that sponsor them, facilitate the entry of terrorist mercenaries and offer them money, weapons and logistical support,” Assad was quoted by Al-Ikhbariya television as telling Mr. Brahimi.

Refugees Being Turned Back, Sent Home. Hundreds of people fleeing the civil war in Syria are being turned back at the border with Jordan and neighboring countries, says Amnesty International. Those being denied entry include Palestinian and Iraqi refugees who have been living in Syria, and those without identity documents, its report says. Al Jazeera covered the report with a video segment on refugee camps in the country.

“People fleeing Syria to Jordan and other countries in the region are being hampered by tightening border restrictions. Many of them have already lost everything,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Director of the Middle East and North Africa.Those being turned away also include unaccompanied men with no demonstrable family ties in Jordan.

Amnesty says that in the past year, dozens of refugees allowed into Jordan have also been deported back to Syria. In August 2012, it says some 200 refugees were forcibly returned to Syria after protests broke out at the Zaatari refugee camp.

Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team: 

Telegraph: Al-Qaida Recruits Entering Syria From Turkey Safehouses

Washington Post: Syria’s Unimaginable Afflictions

Al Monitor: Ban Ki-moon: Military  Solution ‘Not Possible’ in Syria

Al Jazeera: Jordan Criticized for Syrian Refugee Camps

BBCHundreds of Syrian Refugees ‘Denied Entry Into Jordan’

Telegraph: No Syria Peace Without End to Foreign Support For Rebels. Says Bashar Assad

Daily Beast: U.N. Prepares for Regional Polio Outbreak in Syria and Lebanon

Carnegie: Unifying Syria’s Rebels: Saudi Arabia Joins the Fray, Yezid Sayigh

NPRBurn, Bury or Scorch? Why Destroying Syria’s Chemical Weapons is Hard

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