The United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura plans to start substantive peace talks by March 14, his spokeswoman said on Tuesday, five days later than his planned start on March 9.
Although the talks will officially resume on March 9, some participants in the talks will only arrive in Geneva on March 12, March 13 and March 14, De Mistura’s spokeswoman Jessy Chahine told a regular UN briefing. She said the same participants had been invited as in the first round. (end)
UN sees no halt in Syria truce, talks to run to March 24
GENEVA – Syria’s cessation of hostilities is open-ended in the view of the United Nations and the major powers, U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Wednesday, brushing off a widespread perception that the truce needed renewing after two weeks.
De Mistura plans to launch substantive peace talks on Monday, and said they will focus on the core issues of governance, elections within 18 months and a new constitution. The round of talks would not run beyond March 24, when there would be a break before resuming. (end)
