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.


UN Envoy: 'Moment of Truth' For Syria as Peace Talks Set to Resume

by VOA News

   U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said despite some concerns
   about recent violence, he believes "a moment of truth has arrived" as
   he prepared to launch a new round of peace talks aimed at ending nearly
   seven years of fighting.

   The U.N.-led talks in Geneva due to begin Tuesday are the eighth round
   since 2012. Many of the prior attempts quickly fell apart amid major
   disagreements between the Syrian government and rebel delegations,
   including about whether President Bashar al-Assad should remain in
   office.

   The two sides appear to be in the same position after opposition
   delegation chief Nasr Hariri told reporters Monday that their goal is
   for Assad to not be in power when a political transition begins.

   The government delegation did not arrive in Geneva on Monday, but de
   Mistura planned to go ahead Tuesday with meetings with opposition
   figures. Prior rounds of peace talks have proceeded under similar
   circumstances with one party arriving a day or two late.

   De Mistura said he believes it is possible for the two sides to narrow
   their differences as they negotiate under a framework approved by the
   U.N. Security Council that calls for a new constitution and elections.
   But he reiterated that his mediation team will not accept either side
   entering the talks with preconditions.

   "This crisis, one of the worst in the history of the United Nations,
   now has the potential to move towards a genuine political process," the
   envoy said. "We see the emergence of international consensus, and we
   must begin to stitch the process into concrete results, enabling
   Syrians to determine their own future freely."

   The fighting in Syria began in 2011 with peaceful protests against
   Assad and a government crackdown, eventually leading to a multi-party
   conflict that has left more than 400,000 people dead and 13 million in
   need of humanitarian aid.