The latest report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic describes “new levels of brutality” in the Syrian war and calls for a “diplomatic surge” as “the only path to a political settlement."

The report recommends, “Negotiations must be inclusive, and must represent all facets of Syria’s cultural mosaic.”

Despite the urgency of the report, diplomacy in Syria is stalling, not surging. On June 5, Lakhdar Brahimi, joint special representative of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, said that the proposed Geneva Conference on Syria, to be held under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General with the United States and Russia playing critical roles, will not be held in June, as originally hoped, because Syrian opposition parties have not yet agreed to participate.

The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, the main opposition group, is conditioning its participation in the Geneva conference on the Free Syrian Army receiving more arms, and a halt to Iranian and Hezbollah support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.