De Mistura Says Geneva Talks Should be Resumed without Preconditions, Expects No Breakthrough

GENEVA- UN Chief’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Wednesday that the Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, due to be held on Thursday, should be resumed without preconditions, pointing out that the Security Council Resolution No. 2254 will be the basis of these talks.

In a press conference on the eve of the talks, de Mistura said “our efforts in the fourth round of talks will be useful because we are serious about giving all parties a chance to try to reach some sort of dialogue.”

De Mistura said he did not expect any breakthrough at the new round of intra-Syrian talks that starts on Thursday.

“I’m not expecting an immediate breakthrough from this negotiation, but the beginning of a series of rounds that will be able to go much more in depth into the substantive issues,” the envoy said.

 He added that the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria will greatly help supporting the political process, pointing out that though it is “fragile”, the agreement is expanding and it continues to be maintained.

De Mistura went on to say that Astana meeting has been a “very positive initiative”, hoping that more Astana meetings will be held due to their importance in following up the cessation of hostilities, the confidence-building process and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday called for implementing the Security Council Resolution No. 2254 regarding the participants in Geneva talks so as to guarantee the representation of all “opposition” groups in the talks.     

Earlier in the day, the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic, led by Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, arrived in Geneva to take part in the Intra-Syrian Talks.

Hamda Mustafa