Russia received confirmation from UN on organization on indirect intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva on March 14 - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. March 12 (Interfax) - The UN has confirmed to Russia that indirect intra-Syrian negotiations will begin in Geneva on March 14, Russian Foreign Ministry official Maria Zakharova said.
"We have received confirmation from the UN that the next round of indirect negotiations between Damascus and various opposition representatives is expected to be conducted on March 14 in Geneva with direct participation by the organization's special representative Staffan de Mistura," she told a briefing.
Zakharova added, citing Moscow's information, that Damascus will participate in the negotiations and its delegation will be led by Syrian envoy to the UN Bashar Jaafari.
"As for Damascus's desire and motivation to take part in the negotiations, we have registered it, it has been confirmed. We have the understanding that the Syrian side will be represented by the Permanent Representative of Syria to the UN," Zakharova said.
She went on to explain that the contacts will be facilitated through moderators. The Russian side will be represented by Vitaly Naumkin, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Oriental Studies Research Institute, Zakharova said.