UN envoy calls for new round of Syria talks in about a month
The United Nations' top envoy for Syria says the next round of talks between the government and opposition will take place as soon as "in about a month" and no later than early November.
Staffan de Mistura tells the UN Security Council that both sides should use the next month to create conditions for "meaningful" talks and to participate "without preconditions."
He says Syria's divided opposition should signal "that it wants to speak with one voice and a common platform in genuine negotiations with the government."
De Mistura adds that the government has a duty "to genuinely negotiate with the opposition."
He said Wednesday that both sides should show readiness to negotiate on four key issues: local and central governance, a new constitution, UN supervised elections and combating terrorism.
