The United Nations envoy to Syria said on Sunday (February 19) talks to be held from February 23 in Geneva would aim to see if there was a window for political negotiations to advance.
“That’s why we have been supporting Astana and the meetings in Astana, of course based on the assumption that they are surgical, laser-beamed on a very important issue, establishing, stabilizing, reinforcing the cessation of hostilities,” Staffan de Mistura told delegates at the Munich Security Conference, referring to separate ceasefire talks in the Kazakh capital between Turkey, Russia and Iran.
He said the Geneva talks would be based on U.N. Security Council resolution 2254.
“I can’t tell you (if it will succeed), but we have to push for momentum. Even a ceasefire cannot hold too long if there is no political (solution).”
(REUTERS)