"Consultations were constructive. [UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan] De Mistura plans to proceed with the negotiations," Safronkov said on Friday. "Everyone acknowledged the fact that the Syrian issue is being considered in an increasingly positive atmosphere."
During the consultations, held behind closed doors, members of the Council were briefed by de Mistura.
Safronkov noted the importance of parties to the Syrian conflict starting a dialogue even though the process of opposition consolidation is not over.
On Friday, the seventh round of intra-Syrian talks wrapped up in Geneva. The sides have managed to put three participating groups of Syrian opposition as close to the creation of a single, unified delegation as ever before.
The negotiations on the Syrian crisis settlement take place on two parallel platforms: UN-mediated Geneva talks, and Astana talks that are brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. The latest Astana negotiations were held on July 4-5.
The high-level international meeting on Syria in Astana will most likely take place in late August, a source close to the negotiations process told Sputnik this week while de Mistura said on Firday that the eighth round of Geneva talks are slated for September.
