US Urges Sides of Intra-Syrian Talks to ‘Get Back’ to Geneva - State Dept

The US government wants representatives from the Syrian opposition and government to resume talks in Geneva as soon as they can, but is unable to say if the parties should convene on March 9, Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier, the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee said it will consider the UN's invitation to resume talks with the Syrian government in Geneva on March 9.

"They [Syrian opposition] and the regime need to both get back to Geneva," Toner stated. "I can’t say it should happen on March 9, concretely… but as soon as possible."

The UN-brokered intra-Syrian reconciliation negotiations were set to restart in Geneva on March 7 after being postponed in early February because of the parties’ inability to reach compromise on a number of issues.

The negotiators are expected to work out a permanent truce instead of the interim ceasefire that came into force on Saturday.