Talks aimed at ending the war in Syria took a first tentative step forward yesterday as both sides agreed to use the same document as the basis of discussions, although they disagreed about how the negotiations should proceed.

But there was still no sign of a breakthrough in attempts to relieve the suffering of thousands of besieged residents of the Old City of Homs, an issue that had been put forward to break the ice and build confidence at the start of the talks.

Opposition and government sides said they agreed to use the “Geneva communique”, a document agreed at a previous international conference in Geneva in June 2012, and which sets out the stages needed for an end to three years of fighting and a poli-tical transition.

“We have agreed that Geneva 1 is the basis of the talks,” Oppos-ition spokesman Louay al-Safi told reporters, referring to the 2012 communique.

The Syrian government delegation, which had earlier submitted its own document that it wanted the talks to focus on terrorism, said it would use the Geneva communique, with reservations. However, while the Opposition wants to start by addressing the question of the transitional governing body that the talks aim to create, the govern-ment says the first step is to discuss “terrorism”.

They are going to discuss terrorism

“Mr Brahimi said tomorrow they are going to discuss terrorism because stopping terrorism is the first issue that should be handled,” said Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Geneva communique refers to the government and “armed opposition groups” but there is no mention of “terrorism” or “terrorists”, terms used by the Syrian government to describe those fighting to over-throw Assad.

The Opposition delegation wants discussion of the transitional governing body to come first, including its size and responsibilities, must come first,al-Safi said.

“They seem to be more ready to discuss that issue but still they are trying to push it to the back of the discussion. We told them this has to come first because nothing else can be achieved unless we can form the transitional governing body.”

The Opposition says transitional arrangements must include the removal of Assad, which the government rejects.