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Syrian opposition’s Moscow Group to take part in Geneva talks

The Intra-Syrian talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva on February 23
Syrian peace talks at the United Nations Office in Geneva, 2016 Philippe Desmazes/pool photo via AP
Syrian peace talks at the United Nations Office in Geneva, 2016
© Philippe Desmazes/pool photo via AP

GENEVA, February 21. /TASS/. The Syrian opposition’s Moscow Group will participate in intra-Syrian talks in Geneva and it has already formed its delegation, the chief of the Popular Front for Change and Liberation, Moscow Group leader Qadri Jamil has told TASS.

"We have formed a delegation at the request of the UN Secretary General’s special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. There are three negotiators and two advisers," he said.

"He [de Mistura - TASS] sent a letter to us yesterday saying that he will receive us as a delegation and not representatives of some platform," Jamil said.

"Despite our own remarks regarding the number of delegation members we made a decision to meet de Mistura halfway. We formed a delegation and sent the names to the special UN envoy," Jamil said.

The Moscow platform’s leader said technical issues were being addressed related with the arrival of delegations from Syria to Geneva, but the Moscow group is determined to be in Geneva by the time the talks begin.

"I am not a member of the delegation, but I would like to be present in Geneva as the leader of the Moscow platform, independently from the delegation," he said.

Intra-Syrian talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva on February 23.