On Thursday, the United Nations' Special Envoy for Syria assured peace talks will continue next week despite the main opposition's determination to leave early, a move he dismissed as "diplomatic posturing".
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, who is in charge of the talks in Geneva, acknowledged that the peace talks is in great trouble. De Mistura appealed to regional powers as well as the US and Russia, which brokered the truce, to step in and save the process.
Their chief negotiatior, Asaad Zoubi, confirmed that all the members of the main Syria opposition will leave the peace talks in Geneva. De Mistura, however, said it is a type of diplomatic posturing. He added that these conditions are fairly justifiable because of the questions of holding the ceasefires as per Reuters.
De Mistura, who is knowledgeable of the importance of the peace talks, said they cannot let the negotiations drop. UN plans on renewing the ceasefire as well as accelerating the humanitarian aid while asking other countries to co-sponsor the meet.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the UN's secret is to use the proximity talks in order to get the respective visions of both sides, their views of political transition, as well as the process they are working on.
The issue of political transition has been the main focus on the previous meeting, last April 13. But the opposition's demand of President Bashar al-Assad to go has not been accepted by the Damascus delegation that has been calling for a national unity government.
De Mistura claimed that al-Asaad's interest is to stay in power. He sees no other solution to the problem but political transition. But despite the increasing tension, both sides agree that a radical change must happen. The UN envoy has also confirmed that both sides have already met in Geneva. De Mistura firmly believes in diplomacy prompting him to ask both sides to extend their stay in order for the formal talks to commence.
