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Conflict in Syria

UN-led consultations on Syria conflict kick off in Geneva

The goal of the Geneva consultations is to analyze the current situation following three years since the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012 was adopted

© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuev

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GENEVA, May 5. /TASS/.The consultations under the United Nations auspices with parties involved in the Syrian conflict begin at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, the Palace of Nations, on Tuesday.

The UN's spokesperson in Geneva, Ahmad Fawzi, earlier told TASS that invitations had been sent to the representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition and also to all the regional and international players, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the five permanent UN Security Council members.

The UN special envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and his deputy Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy are due to hold closed, separate and informal meetings with each delegation for a period of four to six weeks, with the focus on the Syrians.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organisations in the Swiss capital Alexei Borodavkin, who is representing Moscow at the consultations on Syria, is expected to meet with the UN special envoy on May 14.

The goal of the Geneva consultations is to analyze the current situation following three years since the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012 was adopted. Staffan de Mistura is due to listen to the sides’ view on the prospects of the implementation of the communique, which sets the task of switching to the peaceful settlement in Syria through talks between the government and the opposition’s transitional governing body.

The UN stresses that no major public statements are expected to be made following the Geneva talks.

The UN special envoy on Syria said earlier the Geneva consultations would be based on the results of the dialogue in Moscow. De Mistura said he believed the consultations in the Russian capital were very useful.

There were two rounds of the intra-Syrian dialogue in Moscow - in January and in early April. The so-called "Moscow Platform" was adopted following the latest consultations - a document that in particular stipulates peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict on the basis of the principles of the Geneva Communique.

According to UN data, fighting between Syrian government troops and militants has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011.

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Syria United Nations

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