New York Likely to Host Third Round of Talks on Syria

Ban Ki-moon said that the third round of talks on Syria crisis settlement is likely to take place in New York.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The third round of talks on Syria crisis settlement is likely to take place in New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

"That's my understanding, that member states are very closely coordinating to have the third Vienna process meeting here in New York, I'm looking forward to that," Ban told reporters.

The UN Chief hopes for the progress following hard work and negotiations of the parties.

"We are working to launch an initiative in early January that would involve both intra-Syrian political talks and a nationwide ceasefire," Ban added.

The third meeting on settling the crisis in Syria is expected to be held some time in December, however, the date is not set yet.

At the first round of Vienna talks in late October, international mediators elaborated a nine-point plan on ending the Syrian civil war, including a definition of national unity, the defeat of extremist groups and assistance to refugees.

During the second round of the talks, held on November 14, the mediators agreed to the upholding of the 2012 Geneva communique on reaching a political solution to the Syrian civil war. The participating states also set a six-month timeframe for Syria to form an interim unity government, while stipulating that elections in Syria should be held within 18 months.