Haq: UN to Send Invitations for Geneva Talks on Syria When Major Countries Reach Agreement on Who Will Represent Opposition
NEW YORK, (ST)-The United Nations yesterday called on major countries to quickly reach an agreement on the “Syrian opposition” delegation to the upcoming Geneva talks on Syria scheduled late this month, as to avoid any delay.
Farhan Haq, the UN Assistant spokesman said, as quoted by AFP, that “the United Nations will send invitations for Geneva talks when the countries that lead the process agree on who will be invited to represent the opposition.” He stressed that the UN chief keeps urging these countries to double their efforts to reach an agreement in this respect.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem said in an interview with Russia’s “Sputnik” news that “the Syrian government hasn’t received any list, that includes the names of the Syrian opposition delegation, or any other list of terrorist groups, but it expects that the opposition delegation will announce cutting off ties with any kind of terrorist organizations if they want to take part in the talks.
Haq reiterated that the UN hopes inter-Syrian talks will kick off on January 25th, but it doesn’t rule out a probable delay.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has stressed the need to fully comply with the Security Council resolutions on forming a comprehensive delegation representing the Syrian opposition to take part in Geneva conference on January 25th.
Hamda Mustafa