Syrian Peace Talks Delegations Agree on Some Settlement Proposals

Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said that Syria's government and opposition delegations at the Geneva peace talks have a good starting point.

GENEVA (Sputnik) — Syria's government and opposition delegations at the Geneva peace talks have reached some points of agreement, Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said on Wednesday.

"Some things are agreed on by both sides. There are also things they differ on. Our mission is to build convergence, but this will be fine, we have a good starting point," Ramzy told reporters after UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura's meeting with the Syrian government delegation.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian government delegation headed by Ambassador Bashar Jaafari arrived in Geneva for the proximity peace talks after submitting proposals for Syrian reconciliation on Tuesday. Similar proposals were also submitted by the opposition, according to de Mistura.

The latest round of intra-Syrian talks resumed on Monday. Two opposition delegations are taking part in the negotiations: the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which was formed in Saudi Arabia in December, and the delegation formed following talks in Moscow and Cairo. Jaafari has so far ruled out meeting directly with the HNC, stating that the Syrian government considers the delegation to represent terrorist factions.

The indirect talks center around a transitional political process for Syria, which has been in a state of civil war since 2011. The HNC is willing to see the establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, while the government considers this unacceptable.