UN: 'Substantive' Syria talks to start on March 14
Focus will be on governance, a constitution and presidential and parliamentary elections in 18 months, UN envoy says
( Fatih Erel - Anadolu Agency )
Geneve
By Fatih Erel
GENEVA
Syria's cessation of hostilities is "open-ended" and "substantive and deeper" talks will start on March 14, according to the UN.
Speaking on Wednesday in Geneva, UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said the new talks’ focus would be on governance, a constitution and on holding presidential and parliamentary elections in 18 months.
De Mistura was speaking following a meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Task Force.
This round of peace talks would not last beyond March 24 and there would be a couple of days' break before resuming dialogue, de Mistura indicated.
De Mistura also told reporters that following the cessation of hostilities, the UN had reached over 238,000 people in besieged Syrian towns with 536 trucks of humanitarian aid.
The issue of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid should not be addressed by next week's talks because the ISSG task force was addressing those issues, de Mistura added.
Later Wednesday, the U.S. said the cessation of hostilities -- signed last month between sides to halt clashes in Syria -- did appear to be largely holding as there was a reduction in violence and increased humanitarian assistance since it was signed.
Over reports saying that the Syrian opposition has not confirmed yet to participate to the talks, but were prepared to make a decision very soon, Kirby noted the U.S. wanted "obviously" see them to participate but let them speak for themselves.
When asked about whether the U.S. wanted to see a national government or a transitional government in Syria, the spokesman said the U.S. has not laid down a policy on this issue.
The U.S. wants to make sure that the key institutions of the Syrian government are at least preserved in some form.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had formerly specifically had mentioned the need to have some security forces in place, as he considered them as "critical" to an increased stability.
But on how the other institutions should look like, it's important to see the talks in Geneva to get started, Kirby said, adding therefore it was important for the Syrian opposition to attend the talks.
