UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (Sputnik) — UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura arrived in Damascus on Thursday to meet with Syrian politicians and stakeholders to discuss final proposals to the UN to find a political solution to the ongoing civil war in the country ahead of an upcoming UN Security Council meeting, the United Nations said.
In early July, de Mistura said he intended to finalize proposals in support of Syrian parties reaching a political solution by the end of the month.
“UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura visited Damascus today, with the main purpose of discussing with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr Walid Mouallem and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Faisal Mekdad the preliminary findings of the Geneva Consultations and the preparations for the Security Council debate on Syria on 29 July in New York," the United Nations said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Syrian Information Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said Damascus had not been informed about a new action plan by de Mistura.
In recent months, de Mistura has been holding meetings with the representatives of the parties to the Syrian internal war, including Syrian opposition figures, in an attempt to stop the fighting.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian civil war death toll has reached 320,000. The United Nations estimate the number to be above 220,000, including civilians, rebels and government forces.
According to both organizations, displaced and refugee populations in the country are over 12 million people, at a minimum.
