Saudi-Backed HNC Blames Damascus for Lack of Progress at April Talks

The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) thinks the April round of intra-Syria talks could have gone better if the Damascus delegation "took it more seriously," HNC official representative Salem Meslet told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura closed the April round of intra-Syrian talks on Wednesday after 11 days of his mediation. HNC suspended its participation last week over ceasefire violations and lack of progress on the humanitarian track, for which it blamed the Syrian government.

"Round 3 of Geneva talks could have been better if the regime respected the truce, if there was an implementation of [UN Security Council Resolution] 2254… I believe we could have witnessed a better round if the regime was serious," Meslet said.

The official echoed the platform’s previous calls for Russian President Vladimir Putin to "put pressure" on Syrian President Bashar Assad to undertake its side of the commitments.

According to Meslet, HNC will decide whether it will take part in a new round of intra-Syria talks after it sees positive changes on the ground.

"We will wait to see the changes on the ground, on the ceasefire, detainees and besieged areas. We, HNC members, will meet to take a decision about the Geneva talks. But first we need to see some changes on the ground," Meslet said.

On Wednesday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura closed the third round of indirect talks between the Syrian government and the opposition. HNC paused its participation in April talks last week over alleged ceasefire violations and lack of progress on humanitarian track.