WEB DESK
Syrian rivals were to resume UN-backed peace talks in Geneva today, with escalating violence and impasse on various issues fading hopes of a breakthrough. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura tried to strike an optimistic note when the previous round ended last month. He insisted government and rebel negotiators had agreed on a clear agenda and that everything is ready for the talks to move forward.
On the agenda for this round are issues of governance – a political transition, the constitution and elections, as well as counter-terrorism at the request of Damascus. But an already-fragile ceasefire has deteriorated further in recent days after rebels and allied jihadists launched two surprise offensives on government positions in Damascus and central Hama province.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s air force has responded with raids on rebel targets, further threatening negotiations which have yielded little in four previous rounds. The UN talks is with an objective to find a solution to end a six-year conflict in the region. The UN’s deputy Syria envoy, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy will meet the rival camps in Geneva to prepare the round ahead, the UN said.