U.N. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura informs the media on the Intra-Syrian Talks, during a new press conference, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 14 March 2016.(Photo: SALVATORE DI NOLFI, EPA)
Syria peace talks resumed<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Monday, as the conflict approaches its fifth anniversary.
Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, told reporters in Geneva<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that the resumption of the negotiations was a “moment of truth” and that the “only Plan B available is return to war.”
The talks are scheduled to continue for two weeks.
De Mistura suspended the first round of talks more than a month ago, citing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>continued violence and lack of humanitarian relief on the ground.
He said a "cessation of hostilities" introduced introduced on Feb. 27<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has largely held, allowing for some humanitarian aid to be delivered to beleaguered areas.
USA TODAY
Syria marks 5 years of war with renewed peace talks
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that he was encouraged by the "very significant reduction in violence, maybe 80, 90%" but remained concerned by allegations of violations allegedly committed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"The cessation of hostilities in our judgment is an ongoing process, and the Russians and Iranians ... (must) do their part to keep the Assad regime adhering to the agreement," Kerry said at a news<span style="color: Red;">*</span>conference in Saudi Arabia.
USA TODAY
Syrian cease-fire wobbly but holding
Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told reporters in Geneva on Sunday that the government<span style="color: Red;">*</span>held positive discussions with de Mistura.
However he added: "We do not know what issues we will address or the agenda, which we still have not agreed on."
Salem al-Meslet, a spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee, an umbrella group of Syrian opposition, said it would<span style="color: Red;">*</span>stick with the talks, but added: "There will be no role within this (transitional) body for those who have committed crimes, or for Bashar al-Assad," AFP reported.
The conflict has killed nearly 500,000<span style="color: Red;">*</span>people and created almost 5 million refugees, fueling the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
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