Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Edited by Nelly T.
A new round of peace talks has been opened by UN Syria emissary Staffan de Mistura who aims to renew pledges already made to uphold a truce he described had been shaken by a serious incident but “not a bushfire”.
de Minstura said on Wednesday “in spite of the several and serious incidents, the cessation of hostilities is still holding, particularly when we compare what used to be.”
He emphasized confidences in the partial ceasefire, which began on February 27 and does not include Islamic State or al-Qaeda linked groups, would be damaged if repeated “incidents” persisted.
“And that is why perhaps it would be good timing for a reaffirmation by those who have been supporting and promoting the cessation of hostilities in their faith and determination in protecting it.
“At the beginning of the second round of talks that would be a significant help.”
de Mistura has travelled to Moscow, Damascus, Tehran and Amman since March 24 when the last round of talks ended.
He said interest and support had been indicated by officials in all four capitals for a discussion aimed at a political transition in Syria.
The UN Syria envoy was speaking after meeting negotiators from the opposition High Negotiations Committee for the first session of the new round of talks.
Asaad al-Zoubi, the head of the opposition negotiating team, said establishing a transitional governing body was the top priority this time around.
In a show of support for President Bashar al-Assad, the government’s negotiators are expected in Geneva on Friday after vote-counting from elections held in government-controlled areas on Wednesday.
Zoubi described Assad as a “disease” that Syria needed to be rid of.
He accused the Syrian government of committing more than 2000 breaches of the truce and dropping 420-barrel bombs in March.
“This is a clear sign that the regime is a terrorist regime and is not serious about seeking a political solution,” he said.
The government refuted the accusations of dropping barrel bombs.
It has said its opponents are responsible for violations of the truce, which a senior official close to the Syrian government said on Tuesday had effectively collapsed.
