Syrian Opposition Sets Red Lines on Release of Detainees in Peace Talks

The Riyadh-formed Syrian High Negotiations Committee (HNC) opposition delegation in the Syrian peace talks has set "red lines" in its negotiations with the Syrian government delegation regarding the numbers of detainees to be released by the government, HNC spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani said on Friday.

GENEVA (Sputnik) – The delegation also seeks to ensure the free movement of humanitarian aid in Syria, as well as to end sieges across the country, she added.

"There are fixed red lines in our position [on the release of detainees] in the documents that we presented," Kodmani told reporters after the meeting between UN Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and the HNC delegation.

The Riyadh-formed Syrian High Negotiations Committee (HNC) opposition delegation hopes to see Syria's transition to a democratic state accomplished by next year, Kodmani said.

"Today, we commemorate the fifth anniversary [of start of the civil war]. Our hope is that on the sixth anniversary, next year, we will move to the democratic reconstruction of the Syrian people," Kodmani told reporters after the meeting between UN Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and the HNC delegation.

The latest round of the intra-Syrian talks resumed on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland. Three opposition delegations are taking part in the negotiations: the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which was formed in Saudi Arabia in December, a delegation formed following talks in Moscow and Cairo and a group formed after opposition talks at the Hmeimim air base in Syria.

The proximity talks center around a transitional political process for Syria, which has been in a state of civil war since 2011. A number of sticking points persist, with the HNC seeking the establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, while the government considers this unacceptable.