UN negotiations with Syrian opposition delegation from Riyadh may start Sunday - UN Envoy de Mistura
GENEVA. Jan 29 (Interfax) - The UN's negotiations with a Syrian opposition delegation from Riyadh may start on January 31, says UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
The UN is trying to persuade the delegation to discuss humanitarian issues at the negotiations in Geneva rather than demand that their resolution be seen as a precondition for their participation, he said.
De Mistura said he had good reasons to presume that the opposition delegation is considering the matter seriously, and there are chances that the discussions could be started on Sunday.
He added that these discussions would make it possible to switch to full-format intra-Syrian negotiations.
De Mistura said he did not have an official confirmation from the opposition delegation that its members agreed to join the negotiations but saw media reports on this as a good message.
The best way to address issues to help the people in Syria and accomplish a political transition in Syria is to come to Geneva for negotiations, he added.
