Politics
20:49, 10-Jul-2017
Syria peace talks: All sides under pressure to make progress
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UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and the Syrian government delegation held their first meeting on Monday in a new round of peace talks in Geneva.
The government delegation is led by Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar al-Ja'afari.
The UN has welcomed the current calm situation in southwest Syria, although it remains to be seen whether it will lead to lasting peace or resumed violence.
No one knows what the current calm in southwestern Syria will lead to./VCG Photo
No one knows what the current calm in southwestern Syria will lead to./VCG Photo
The government and rebel representatives still disagree on the focus of the peace talks.
The government is looking at fighting against terrorism while rebels are concentrating on political transition.
The UN is also under pressure to present tangible results since there has been criticism that the latest peace talks were used as a smokescreen for parties involved to continue with their own agenda.
The talks come as a ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia in southwest Syria coming into effect Sunday.
This is the seventh round of peace talks in the Swiss city.
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