Syrian government delegation to arrive in Geneva Wednesday
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GENEVA - Syria's government delegation will arrive a day late in Geneva to take part in direct peace talks with the opposition, a Syrian foreign ministry official and a UN official said Tuesday, a delay that appeared to reflect the government's displeasure with the opposition's insistence that President Bashar Assad must leave at the start of any transitional period.
The United Nations is scheduled to resume the peace talks between the government and the Syrian opposition in the Swiss city on Tuesday. The opposition's delegation arrived Monday, after publishing a communique last week that said it was ready for talks "without preconditions."
"I can confirm we have received a message from Government of Syria indicating that their delegation would arrive tomorrow," said Michael Contet, an adviser to UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura.
The Syrian foreign ministry official in Damascus also said the delegation will take part in talks starting Wednesday afternoon and the delegation will be headed by Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's representative at the United Nations.
