GENEVA (Sputnik) — The only alternative to the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva should they fail is a return to war, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Monday.
"The alternative, some people call it 'Plan B,' as you know. Well, as far as I know, the only 'Plan B' available is return to war, and to an even worse war than we've had so far," de Mistura said during a press conference in Geneva ahead of the round of Syrian reconciliation talks expected to last through March 24.
"If during these talks and in the next rounds we will see no notice or any willingness to negotiate, which we hope is not going to be the case, obviously we will do what we want to do and what we have done: we'll bring the issue back to those who have influence. And that is the Russian Federation, the US — co-chairs of the ISSG, and to the Security Council," he added.
The special envoy reiterated his previous calls for negotiations to go ahead without preconditions.
"Public rhetoric will try to cast iron preconditions, but this is a moment of truth and hopefully proactive chance," de Mistura stressed.
Opposition at the indirect negotiations is represented by the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee and political figures from the so-called Moscow-Cairo group.
Members of both opposition and governmental delegations arrived at Geneva over the weekend. On Sunday evening, de Mistura paid courtesy visits to both delegations and outlined the program.
On March 9, de Mistura announced that the talks would not go beyond March 24 and would focus on new governance, constitution and elections.
