UN says upcoming Syria talks aimed at 'political transition'
A top adviser to the UN envoy for Syria said Tuesday that their "main guidance" for the first Syrian peace talks in 10 months will be a Security Council resolution that calls for a political transition.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura is putting the "finishing touches on arrangements" for Thursday's start of talks in Geneva between the government and the opposition, the fourth round since early last year, his chief of staff, Michael Contet, told reporters.
Contet noted that Security Council resolution 2254 asks the envoy to convene "formal negotiations on the political transition process." The new talks will revolve around three issues: "Credible, inclusive and nonsectarian governance," a new constitution and free and fair elections.
The last UN-mediated talks were suspended in April amid renewed fighting. Government forces have since recaptured areas around the country and taken full control of the northern city of Aleppo — President Bashar Assad's biggest victory since the conflict began in March 2011.
According to several estimates, Syria's war has killed some 400,000 people, displaced millions and sent more than four million refugees to neighboring countries.
