National Coalition to Be Invited to Attend Next Round of Intra-Syrian Talks

Intra-Syrian talks in Moscow "did not attempt to monopolize efforts" aimed at Syrian reconciliation, and could not be considered as alternative to UN-backed Geneva talks, Russian moderator said.

MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik) — The National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces will be invited again to attend the next round of Syria reconciliation talks in Moscow, Russian moderator Vitaly Naumkin said Thursday.

"Our contact group will maintain contact with all those who met in Moscow [during the first round] as well as with potential participants, even with those who declined the invitation, the National Coalition in particular," Naumkin told reporters.

"I think that they will receive an invitation again," Naumkin said.

The moderator stressed that talks in Moscow did not attempt to monopolize efforts aimed at Syrian reconciliation, and could not be considered as alternative to UN-backed Geneva talks

"I would assume that the participation of [UN special envoy for Syria] Mr. Staffan de Mistura [in Moscow talks] would be welcome by both sides," he said.

The first round of the intra-Syria talks took place in Moscow, January 26-29. Government officials, representatives from opposition parties, and de Mistura took part in the negotiations.

The Moscow negotiations are the first to attempt to deal with the issue of Syrian reconciliation since last January. At that time, the second round of the UN-backed conference on Syria was held in Geneva, Switzerland, but failed to yield significant results.

Syria has been embroiled in civil war since 2011. The country's army is fighting several opposition and rebel groups, including the Islamic State. Syria's internal conflict has killed 200,000 people so far, according to UN estimates.