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Subgroups on Syria to begin working in Vienna on Nov 11 — UN envoy

Staffan de Mistura said he observes decisions of the Security Council, which has named two terrorist groups - the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as some organisations related to al-Qaeda
Staffan de Mistura  EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI
Staffan de Mistura
© EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

UN, November 11. /TASS/. Three subgroups will begin working in Vienna on Wednesday. They will put together lists of terrorist groups and opposition in Syria and will discuss humanitarian issues, the UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters on Tuesday.

From November 11 (Wednesday) will begin working three subgroups, he said. One - on terrorism, as this issue requires clarity. The other - on opposition - will see who is the opposition, how to bring its members together; and another one is on humanitarian issues, he said.

The UN special envoy said the meetings in Vienna would be chaired by two countries - the US and Russia, and the UN is offering support to them.

When asked what groups the UN considers terrorist in Syria, de Mistura said in that issues he observes decisions of the Security Council, which had named two terrorist groups - the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as some organisations related to al-Qaeda. He said that region’s countries should identify other groups.

The diplomat said he would head for Vienna within several hours, adding during the closed meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday he reported results of the first meeting in Vienna in late October, since not all members of the Security Council participated in the talks. De Mistura assured them the UN would support any decision taken in Vienna.

In the talks due in Vienna on coming Saturday will participate the delegations to the first meeting, including Russia, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Turkey, France, the UN represented by its secretary general, and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Moscow expects the counterparts will draft for the Vienna talks due on November 14 lists of terrorist groups and of the Syrian opposition. The talks will also feature representatives of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

On October 29, a four-party meeting took place in Vienna between Russia, US, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on the settlement of the Syrian crisis. On October 30, the discussion was joined by other countries and organizations - 19 in total. A final document of nine points was adopted after the meeting.

The communique said that "the participants invited the UN to convene representatives of the Government of Syria and the Syrian opposition for a political process leading to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance, followed by a new constitution and elections. These elections must be administered under U.N. supervision to the satisfaction of the governance and to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, free and fair, with all Syrians, including the diaspora, eligible to participate.".