Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                       Syria Talks to Go Ahead as Planned

   by VOA News

   The top U.S. diplomat says the U.N.-sponsored peace talks on Syria
   should go ahead as planned Monday despite what he called "perceived
   truce violations" by the Syrian government.

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Russian and American monitors
   are meeting in both Geneva and Amman Saturday to try to figure out how
   to reduce the violence in Syria.

   "The level of violence by all accounts has been reduced by 80 to 90
   percent, which is very, very significant," Kerry said Saturday in Saudi
   Arabia.

   ''

   Syrian delegation's plans
   Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem says the Syrian
   government remains committed to the cease-fire agreement, but its
   delegation to the peace talks will only wait 24 hours for the
   opposition delegation to arrive for the talks.  Muallem said Saturday
   in Damascus the diplomats will leave for Geneva Sunday.

   ''

   A Syrian opposition official says the foreign minister is "halting
   Geneva talks before they start."

   Syria's main opposition group has said it will attend the peace talks
   in Geneva.

   No talks on presidency
   In another development, Muallem said the Syrian government will not
   talk to anyone who wants to discuss the presidency.  He said U.N. envoy
   Staffan de MIstura has "no right"  to discuss the future of the
   country's presidential elections.

   The U.S. State Department says the cease-fire "has produced a dramatic
   reduction in violence," but warned the regime continues to carry out
   attacks.

   U.N. officials say the cessation of hostilities agreement has made it
   possible for U.N. and partner agencies to deliver food, medicine and
   other aid to 115,000 Syrian civilians living in areas under siege by
   government or opposition forces.  They say last year, aid agencies were
   unable to access any of these areas.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-talks-to-go-ahead-as-planned/32
   33013.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-talks-to-go-ahead-as-planned/3233013.html