UN envoy says 'pause' in Syria talks until Feb 25
- 8 years ago
The UN special envoy for Syria announced on Wednesday a "temporary pause" until February 25 of troubled talks in Switzerland aimed at ending the civil war.
"There's more work to be done," Staffan de Mistura told reporters in Geneva.
His comments came after several days of fruitless talks aimed at starting indirect negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition.
The opposition umbrella group High Negotiations Committee only reluctantly arrived in Geneva on Saturday, a day after representatives from President Bashar al-Assad.
The HNC was insisting on immediate steps including humanitarian aid getting through to besieged cities, a halt to the bombardment of civilians and the release of prisoners.
The government delegation meanwhile complained that the HNC was disorganized, had not named its negotiators and that the body contained individuals it considered "terrorists".
"There's more work to be done," Staffan de Mistura told reporters in Geneva.
His comments came after several days of fruitless talks aimed at starting indirect negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition.
The opposition umbrella group High Negotiations Committee only reluctantly arrived in Geneva on Saturday, a day after representatives from President Bashar al-Assad.
The HNC was insisting on immediate steps including humanitarian aid getting through to besieged cities, a halt to the bombardment of civilians and the release of prisoners.
The government delegation meanwhile complained that the HNC was disorganized, had not named its negotiators and that the body contained individuals it considered "terrorists".