Syrian Opposition Against Talks Until Damascus Implements UNSC Resolution

Riyadh-formed opposition will not start any proxy talks in Geneva until the Syrian government implements a resolution of the UN Security Council on the Syrian reconciliation, a spokesman for the opposition delegation at the talks said Sunday.

GENEVA (Sputnik) — On December 18, the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 2254 on the Syria's civil war settlement, which calls for an immediate ceasefire and defines a January deadline for UN-facilitated peace talks to commence.

"Proxy talks will not start until the government implements the UN resolution," Riyadh Naasan Agha told reporters.

Meanwhile, another opposition spokesman Monzer Makhous said that the opposition representative would not go to the UN building at all until Damascus complied their demands on ceasefire and the release of political prisoners.

The Syrian talks began on Friday with a meeting between UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura and the delegation of the Syrian government. On Sunday, de Mistura is expected to meet with the Saudi-backed HNC delegation, headed by Assad Zaouri.