Geneva, SANA- The United Nations spokesman Ahmad Fawzi announced Friday that the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura had invited Syria’s government and opposition groups for separate talks in Geneva on May 4.
De Mistura plans for “low-key” talks with each of the main stakeholders over four to six weeks in the Swiss city, Ahmad Fawzi told a news briefing.
Major Powers, regional and international players have been invited, but not the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Jabhat al-Nusra, which are classified as terrorist organizations. Some of those present at the talks would be able to communicate with them, he added.
Separate consultations will involve representatives or ambassadors of the invited parties whose aim is to study the situation, Fawzi said.
UN Secretary General’s deputy special envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy had visited Moscow and met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov, discussing with them ways to push forward the political solution for the crisis through dialogue.
Russia said it is willing to participate in the Geneva consultations after hosting two rounds of inter-Syrian talks in January and earlier in April of 2015, with the two sides-the government delegation and opposition figures- approving “Moscow Principles”.
Manar al-Frieh/Manal Ismael
