The UN special envoy for Syria says peace talks to end the country’s civil war have not made progress so far. Speaking to media, UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura yesterday said the standoff between the two sides again prevented them from having direct dialogue during the talks that lasted about 2 weeks. He described the negotiations as a big missed opportunity as there is a clear indication by many sides that the military operations are coming to a close.
De Mistura stressed that he does not plan to give up mediating the talks. He indicated that there are plans for a new round of discussions in January. The talks between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces began in Geneva on November 28th.
Russia and Iran support Assad, while Turkey backs anti-government forces who demand Assad step down. The 3 countries have been aiming to take the lead in the peace negotiations based on their respective frameworks.
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