UN Calls on All Parties to Attend Syria Peace Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) encouraged the Syrian parties to return to talks in good faith and to “engage constructively and without preconditions”.
In a press statement on Friday, the Council welcomed the conclusion of a further round of intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva on 3 March 2017, the UN News Center reported.
It further welcomed an announcement by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura that the talks had yielded a clear agenda for future negotiations as indicated by resolution 2254 (2015), focusing on governance; constitutional issues; elections; and counter-terrorism, security and confidence building measures.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their commitment to ensuring the inclusion of Syrian women in the political process through sustained consultation and dialogue and promoting their full and effective participation.
Recognizing that the continuation of political negotiations was made possible by the ceasefire developed through the Astana process, the Council called on the Syrian parties to fully implement the ceasefire, established pursuant to the arrangements of 29 December 2016, including ending ceasefire violations and ensuring humanitarian access.
The Council also encouraged the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) members to use their influence over the parties to help end violations, reduce violence, build confidence and ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access in line with its resolution 2165 (2014).
Syria has been fighting different foreign-sponsored militant and terrorist groups since March 2011. De Mistura estimated last August that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then.
Numerous rounds of UN talks have been being held to help end the conflict. De Mistura is the third envoy appointed by the world body to oversee the negotiations.
