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About half of members of HNC delegation left Geneva — HNC adviser

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier described the HNC’s behavior as an attempt to disrupt the talks, which leads to the return of a military scenario in Syria
Syria talks in Geneva EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI
Syria talks in Geneva
© EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

GENEVA, April 20. /TASS/. Nearly half of representatives of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) have left Geneva, HNC adviser Yahya al-Aridi has told TASS.

"Yes, indeed, some of HNC representatives have left, maybe half or slightly less than half of the delegation," he said. "(Assad) al-Zoubi (head of the HNC delegation - TASS) is still there, for how long I cannot say. If there are no talks, there is no need for him to be present there."

On April 18, the HNC said it was going to quit the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva due to ceasefire violations in Syria and named three conditions for its return to the negotiating table, namely, delivery of humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach areas, release of prisoners and compliance with the truce by Damascus.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier described the HNC’s behavior as an attempt to disrupt the talks, which leads to the return of a military scenario in Syria. According to the minister, it is necessary to clamp down on such attempts.