Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Moscow, SANA -Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura expressed during a closed session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday his welcoming about the results of the last round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.
Churkin added comments published on the website of the Russian diplomatic mission in New York that even though de Mistura “did express considerable concern about some sort of erosion of the regime of cessation of hostilities, I think he gave a rather positive description of what he was able to achieve in the course of the second round of talks.”
The positive aspect lies in that “there were some good exchanges, including on a very difficult issue of political transition. We think there is something which can be picked up and developed in the course of continued negotiations,” Churkin said.
He added that de Mistura make an announcement very shortly on the date of the next round of intra-Syrian talks, adding that “We expressed the hope that the interval between two rounds of talks (second and third) is not going to be very big.
De Mistura to visit Moscow next week, says a Russian Foreign Ministry source
De Mistura will visit Moscow next week and plans to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a Russian Foreign Ministry source said Thursday.
De Mistura is expected to discuss with Lavrov the outcomes of the Intra-Syrian dialogue in Geneva and the prospects for holding a next round of dialogue, the source added.
The third round of Inter-Syrian dialogue ended Wednesday, and de Mistura briefed the UNSC on it latest development and told journalists that one or two other rounds would be organized before July.
The source indicated that all the participants need to adopt a constructive position and inclusiveness be ensured in order for the talks to go on steadily.
Earlier Wednesday, Russian President’s Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov expressed hope that the next round of dialogue be resumed on May 10th.
Bogdanov discusses Geneva talks with the opposition “Hmeimim” group
In a relevant context, Bogdanov met on Thursday representatives of the opposition “Hmeimim” group in Moscow and discussed with them the latest round of intra-Syrian dialogue in Geneva that concluded yesterday.
A Russian Foreign Ministry source said in statements that Bogdanov stressed during today’s meeting the need to enhance the cessation of hostilities, continue aid delivery to needy people and preserve Syria as a united, independent and secular state.
The Russian side also affirmed the need to arrange a steady and all-inclusive process of talks among the Syrians under the UN supervision in Geneva, according to the source.
The importance of exerting constructive efforts by all the peaceful forces in Syria to reach consensus on various issues as soon as possible according to the Security Council resolution no. 2254 was also stressed by the Russian side.
Barry/H. Said
