UN-Arab League envoy to deliver opening speech at 1st round of inter-Syrian talks in Geneva - source
GENEVA. Jan 24 (Interfax) - UN-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi alone will address Syria's government and opposition delegations at bilateral talks in Geneva on Friday, a diplomatic source, who asked not to be named, told reporters.
Brahimi will deliver a 30-minute opening speech, the source said, adding the speeches by representatives of the two Syrian delegations are not on the agenda.
The meeting will be held as part of the Geneva II international peace conference on Syria, which opened on January 22.
Following Brahimi's address, the Syrian delegations are expected to move to separate rooms and will continue negotiations, in which Brahimi will act as a mediator.
Western diplomats, for their part, have expressed skepticism over a chance to secure the two Syrian sides' agreement at the talks in Geneva.
A diplomatic source close to the conference said that although the first stage of negotiations between Syria's government and opposition is expected to continue until the end of next week, "everything may come crashing down on Friday."