Riyadh-Backed Syrian Opposition Yet to Decide on Joining Geneva Peace Talks

The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition has not decided whether it would participate in a new round of negotiations with Damascus.

DUBAI (Sputnik) — The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has not yet decided whether to participate in a new round of talks with the Syrian government in Geneva, a HNC spokesman said Wednesday.

"A decision [on our participation in the talks] has not been made. The committee is waiting for the implementation of the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on the release of political prisoners and the delivery of aid to all besieged areas [before making a decision]," Riyad Naasan Agha told RIA Novosti.

According to the spokesman, the HNC expects the committee to make a decision on the issue in the coming days.

The NHC spokesman added that the opposition group had received an invitation to participate in the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva from UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura a few days ago.

The first round of substantial proximity talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces are scheduled to start next Monday. Participants in the negotiations started arriving in Geneva on Wednesday, with more negotiators and task force members due to arrive in the next few days.