Baird headed to Swiss peace talks on Syria as opposition remains uncommitted

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will attend a major international meeting next week aimed at ending the Syrian civil war as a major push continues to get rebels to attend the talks.

Baird will travel to Switzerland for the opening of next Wednesday’s peace conference, known as Geneva 2 — the latest attempt to find a political solution to a bloody conflict that has killed an estimated 120,000 people.

It wasn’t clear today whether all warring sides in the Syrian conflict would be at the table for the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is mounting a major push to have the Syrian opposition groups attend, but the various factions aren’t expected to make a decision until Friday.

Canada has been less supportive of the Syrian opposition than its major allies because it is concerned about Islamic militants in their ranks.

Baird, who is currently in Washington, will make the trip after accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Israel earlier next week.