UN Envoy Meets President Assad in Damascus
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, pushing for the implementation of a UN plan including local truces.
A statement from Assad's office following Monday's meeting said the president was ready to study a proposal to "freeze" fighting in the northern city of Aleppo.
"President Assad has been informed by de Mistura of the main points of his initiative," said the statement.
"(Assad) said it was worthy of study and that work on it is needed ... in order to re-establish security in Aleppo."
It is de Mistura's second visit to Syria since he was appointed to his position in July.
On October 30, the Italian-Swedish envoy put forward an "action plan" for Syria that proposed to "freeze" fighting in local areas to allow for aid deliveries, and to lay the groundwork for peace talks, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the Syrian presidency's Facebook page, Assad emphasised "the importance of Aleppo," which rebels and the army have been fighting over since July 2012.
