Syria Peace Talks: Syrian opposition says will not attend Russia-brokered peace talks

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The Syrian opposition says it will not attend a peace conference that Russia is holding in Sochi next week. This comes after government and opposition delegations met for UN-mediated peace talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna. CGTN's Chuck Tinte has more.

Russia, Turkey and Iran have teamed up to help broker a peace settlement for Syria's seven-year conflict. Next week, Moscow will be hosting a peace conference in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. But, the Syrian opposition is not keen on the idea, announcing they will not attend.

YAHYA AL-ARIDI SYRIAN OPPOSITION SPOKESPERSON "We believe that Sochi is like a symposium to get a picture for the world that the Syrian people are reconciling and we understand that there is a political resolution on the part of the United Nations Security Council -- 2254 -- and it should be implemented and that Geneva is the track."

BASHAR AL-JAAFARI SYRIAN GOVERNMENT CHIEF NEGOTIATOR "The goal of the conference in Sochi is to engage in a national intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference. The conference will be attended by about 1,600 participants who will reflect various components of the Syrian society."

The United Nations has yet to decide whether or not it will participate.

STAFFAN DE MISTURA UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA "I took note of the statement by the Russian Federation that the outcome of the congress would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks."

This week's UN-mediated talks in Vienna, on the other hand, offered a welcome development. During the two-day talks, government and opposition delegations reportedly agreed on a cease-fire in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. Both sides also agreed to allow humanitarian aid into besieged areas and the exchange of detainees. Chuck Tinte, CGTN.