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Conflict in Syria

Syrian opposition leader says Damascus should be venue for final round of peace talks

The political aspects of the Syrian settlement are discussed at intra-Syrian talks in Geneva whereas ceasefire-related issues are tackled in Astana

Former Syrian deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

Former Syrian deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil

© EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

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GENEVA, March 7. /TASS/. The final round of Syria’s peace talks should be held in Damascus, a Syrian opposition leader said on Tuesday.

"Naturally, this process should be held in Syria," said Qadri Jamil, the leader of the Moscow opposition. "When we reach results on all the four agenda items proposed by [United Nations Secretary General’s Special Syria Envoy Staffan] de Mistura, the final agreement will be sealed in Damascus."

He said the Moscow platform plans to refer its initiative to change the venue of talks for Damascus to the United Nations envoy later.

The political aspects of the negotiations are discussed at intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, whereas ceasefire-related issues are tackled in Astana. The delegation representing the Assad government has been insisting that some of the members of the so-called Riyadh opposition (High Negotiations Committee, or HNC) are terrorist collaborators.

Ceasefire deal

Qadri Jamil is sure the ceasefire regime in Syria will hold:

"I am sure that the ceasefire will be strengthened and the forces standing for peace and a political solution to the Syrian crisis will grow stronger," he asserted.

"The credit for the ceasefire should be given to Geneva," he added. "The ceasefire has shown who is a terrorist and who advocates the interests of the Syrian people. Those opposition members who accepted the ceasefire are on the same side as the Syrian army that has been fighting against the terrorists."

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United Nations Syrian conflict

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