Syrian Talks in Geneva to Go Ahead Despite Opposition Groups' Doubts

UN-led peace talks between the warring parties in Syria will go ahead as scheduled this month despite doubts cast by some opposition groups, a source in the Syrian opposition told Sputnik on Saturday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova – On Thursday, George Sabra, who leads the opposition Syrian Democratic People’s Party, told Sputnik that January 25, set by the UN special envoy for Syria last month, was an "unrealistic" date to hold intra-Syrian talks.

"Geneva 3 negotiations will be held either way, the decision has been made… Such statements of the Syrian opposition, which belongs to the Riyadh group, have to do with its attempt to monopolize the process of forming the list of Syrian opposition," the source said.

The source, who declined to be named, referred to Syrian opposition groups that met in Saudi Arabia last month to form a council tasked with handpicking representatives at the talks with Syrian authorities.

"I think that they will eventually agree to join the Geneva 3 negotiations at the last moment, or join the talks at the next stage," the source stressed.

The Syrian government delegation agreed to take part in the January 25 talks in Geneva, negotiated by 20 world and regional powers late last year.