UN Needs Lasting Cessation of Hostilities to Resume Geneva Talks on Syria

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is waiting for the situation in Syria to stabilize to call for the resumption of Geneva talks, UN Secretary-General deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Asked why de Mistura takes so long to call for the resumption of Syrian talks, Haq said, “What we need is for there to be lasting cessation of hostilities, we need for the aid to be able to get to people who are in need and there is also very clearly a need for the parties to be willing to meet each other in good faith so they can finally get the talks about the transition in the country.”

Haq noted that de Mistura did not consider the current environment in Syria conducive to the successful talks. He also stated that calling for the resumption of negotiations right now would not bear good results.

The latest cessation of hostilities in Syria was brokered by the United States and Russia on September 9. After being implemented on September 12, the deal broke apart with repeated violations of the ceasefire from all sides.