Kurds to Be Invited to Intra-Syrian Talks in Geneva by End of Current Round

Kurds could be invited to participate in the intra-Syrian reconciliation talks by the end of the current round of negotiations that are being held in Geneva through March 24, a source close to the negotiations told Sputnik on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The intra-Syrian talks with the participation of both Syrian government officials and opposition representatives are set to begin in Geneva later on Monday.

"The Russians and Americans have already agreed on the Kurds' participation at the Geneva talks. [UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan] de Mistura is an official and will need to fulfill the desire of the parties and the UN Security Council decision. I think the Kurds will be invited by the end of this round," the source said.

The first round of talks between the Syrian government and representatives of the country's opposition factions began in Geneva on January 29. The United Nations did not invite the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) to the intra-Syrian talks.

On February 3, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura decided to postpone the talks as the parties were unable to reach a compromise on a number of issues. The opposition and government delegations blamed each other for the breakdown of the talks.

Kurds are one of the largest ethnic groups in Syria. Participants of the peace process in the country, including Russia, have repeatedly stressed that reconciliation talks would fail to reach a political settlement unless the Syrian Kurds were allowed to participate.