U.N. Envoy for Syria Says Peace Talks Will Begin Friday

The United Nations announced on Monday that it would aim to start Syria peace talks on Friday, as Syrian military forces, aided by Russian air power, made new gains on the battlefield, suggesting that even these still precarious diplomatic negotiations would bring little respite in the fighting for the next several months.

 

The United Nations envoy here, Staffan de Mistura, in his announcement of the postponed start date, declined to say who would be invited to represent the opposition — a major sticking point — or mention what would happen to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, the lightning rod of the conflict.

 

Speaking on the day the talks were intended to start, he told reporters that he would only send invitations on Tuesday, and shuttle among various groups of Syrian representatives until they can agree to meet face to face. That could go on, in a staggered fashion, for six months.

 

Read More: U.N. Envoy for Syria Says Peace Talks Will Begin Friday – The New York Times