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| The Latest: Syrian official says talks were ‘positive’ | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| GENEVA — The Latest on Syrian peace talks that resumed in Geneva on Monday (all times local): | |
| 3:30 p.m. | |
| The head of the Syrian government delegation to the indirect peace talks in Geneva says his side’s discussions with U.N. special envoy for Syria were “positive and constructive.” | |
| Bashar Ja’afari told reporters after the meeting with Staffan de Mistura as the talks resumed on Monday in Switzerland that the government delegation “submitted ideas and views” for a political solution to the crisis. | |
| He says de Mistura will meet the representatives of the opposition on Tuesday and the government team again on Wednesday. | |
| Ja’afari says his team wants “to negotiate as Syrians under Syrian leadership without foreign intervention and without preconditions.” | |
| He says any party that opposes this premise is “trying to sabotage this round.” He was referring to the oppositions demands from the previous round that failed in early February, demands that had included an end to bombardment, release of detainees and the lifting of the siege by government troops on rebel-held areas across Syria. | |
| ____ | |
| 12:15 p.m. | 12:15 p.m. |
| Russia’s Foreign Minister says federalization is one possible option in Syria if it is the will of the Syrian people. | Russia’s Foreign Minister says federalization is one possible option in Syria if it is the will of the Syrian people. |
| Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Russia will support whatever solution the Syrian government and the opposition devise to end the country’s war, including “any form (of government) whatever it may be called: federalization, decentralization, unitary state.” | Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Russia will support whatever solution the Syrian government and the opposition devise to end the country’s war, including “any form (of government) whatever it may be called: federalization, decentralization, unitary state.” |
| Speaking after a joint briefing on Monday in Moscow with his Tunisian counterpart, Lavrov also said countries should not launch attacks against terrorists in Libya without first receiving permission from the U.N. Security Council. | Speaking after a joint briefing on Monday in Moscow with his Tunisian counterpart, Lavrov also said countries should not launch attacks against terrorists in Libya without first receiving permission from the U.N. Security Council. |
| Lavrov said discussions about equipping Tunisian special forces in their fight against terrorism are ongoing. | Lavrov said discussions about equipping Tunisian special forces in their fight against terrorism are ongoing. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:15 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. |
| The U.N. special envoy for Syria says a resumption of peace talks between government envoys and representatives of the opposition is a “moment of truth” and insists the “only Plan B available is return to war.” | The U.N. special envoy for Syria says a resumption of peace talks between government envoys and representatives of the opposition is a “moment of truth” and insists the “only Plan B available is return to war.” |
| Staffan de Mistura spoke to reporters Monday moments before resuming “proximity talks” in Geneva, a month after suspending them in an upsurge in violence in Syria. The talks come as he said a “fragile” cease-fire has largely held since Feb. 27, and humanitarian aid deliveries have resumed in recent weeks. | Staffan de Mistura spoke to reporters Monday moments before resuming “proximity talks” in Geneva, a month after suspending them in an upsurge in violence in Syria. The talks come as he said a “fragile” cease-fire has largely held since Feb. 27, and humanitarian aid deliveries have resumed in recent weeks. |
| Many observers say the peace talks are the best chance in years to end a war moving into its sixth year, leaving at least 250,000 people dead and forcing at least 11 million people to leave their homes — many abroad. | Many observers say the peace talks are the best chance in years to end a war moving into its sixth year, leaving at least 250,000 people dead and forcing at least 11 million people to leave their homes — many abroad. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |