All Syrian Sides Confirm Will Attend Peace Talks: UN
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syrian government and opposition groups have confirmed their attendance at peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week, the United Nations said Tuesday.
"All invitees who had already attended the previous round of talks in February 2017 have confirmed their participation," UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters, Reuters reported.
She said UN mediator Staffan de Mistura was currently visiting key powers shaping the conflict -- including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey -- before returning to Geneva to lead the talks.
As de Mistura "completes these consultations, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy (Ezzeldin Ramzy) will engage the parties bilaterally on 23 March in Geneva to prepare the round ahead," Vellucci said.
The participation of all rebel groups could bolster the UN peace process, after some opposition camps refused to attend separate negotiations in Kazakhstan last week.
The parallel series of talks in Astana is aimed at bolstering the truce, in view of supporting the UN negotiations.
