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Conflict in Syria

UN special envoy believes in good outcome of inter-Syrian talks

Staffan de Mistura hopes Russia's decision to withdraw forces will produce a positive impact on the Geneva talks on Syrian settlement

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

CONFLICT IN SYRIA

GENEVA, March 15 /TASS/. UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura has said he is optimistic about the outcome of the resumed inter-Syrian talks in Geneva.

The migrant crisis, Russia’s actions and the Islamic State (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) have created an impetus for the talks, de Mistura said after meeting a delegation of the Syrian opposition represented by the Riyadh-formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC).

The UN special envoy said he had felt the UN Security Council’s unity when he was delivering his report on Monday, March 14.

Russia’s withdrawal from Syria coincides with first day of Geneva peace talks

UN Special Envoy on Syria believes Russia’s decision to start withdrawing troops from Syria is not accidental and is intentionally coincided with the first day of the full-format Syria peace talks.

He said the decision was not occasional and should not be regarded as such. It came on the first day of the inter-Syrian talks, de Mistura told journalists after meeting a delegation of the Syrian opposition represented by the High Negotiations Council in Geneva.

He also repeated what he had said earlier on Tuesday regarding President Putin’s decision to withdraw the Russian Aerospace Forces from Syria. The UN special envoy hopes the decision will produce a positive impact on the Geneva talks aimed at reaching a political settlement in Syria and at peaceful political transition in that country.

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