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Syria's warring sides brought together for Geneva talks Syria's warring sides brought together for Geneva talks
(about 2 hours later)
UN-sponsored peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition are to get under way in Geneva for the first time in nearly a year. UN-sponsored peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition are under way in Geneva for the first time in nearly a year.
The meeting follows weeks of difficult negotiations in preparation. The two sides will not meet face-to-face to begin with.
Staffan de Mistura, the UN's special Syria envoy, said on Wednesday he was "not expecting a breakthrough".Staffan de Mistura, the UN's special Syria envoy, said on Wednesday he was "not expecting a breakthrough".
The opposition is insisting that the fate of President Bashar al-Assad is on the agenda - something the government has refused to discuss.The opposition is insisting that the fate of President Bashar al-Assad is on the agenda - something the government has refused to discuss.
At least 300,000 people have been killed since the war began in 2011. More than 4.8m have fled the country and a further 6.3m have been displaced inside Syria itself.At least 300,000 people have been killed since the war began in 2011. More than 4.8m have fled the country and a further 6.3m have been displaced inside Syria itself.
While hopes of a breakthrough at the talks are low, much has changed since the last round broke down in April 2016.While hopes of a breakthrough at the talks are low, much has changed since the last round broke down in April 2016.
The rebels lost their key bastion of East Aleppo to government forces in December and a nationwide ceasefire (barring certain jihadist groups) has been largely holding for the past several weeks.The rebels lost their key bastion of East Aleppo to government forces in December and a nationwide ceasefire (barring certain jihadist groups) has been largely holding for the past several weeks.
The ceasefire was orchestrated by Turkey, one of the main backers of the rebels, and Russia, Syria's ally. Both powers have also sponsored recent rounds of talks between the government and rebels in Kazakhstan, aimed at shoring up the truce.The ceasefire was orchestrated by Turkey, one of the main backers of the rebels, and Russia, Syria's ally. Both powers have also sponsored recent rounds of talks between the government and rebels in Kazakhstan, aimed at shoring up the truce.
However the opposition warned earlier this week that an escalation of attacks by pro-government forces on Damascus suburbs held by rebels threatened to derail the Geneva talks. Any major violation of the fragile ceasefire could derail the process, UN diplomats have warned.
More than 100,000 civilians live in these areas, where fighting has intensified since Saturday, the UN says, As the negotiations began, Syrian warplanes carried out air strikes in Deraa and Hama provinces, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group said.
Mr de Mistura said Russia had asked the Syrian government to halt its aerial bombardment during the talks, and the SOHR said the level of violence on Thursday was less than in recent days.
'Political transition''Political transition'
The two sides remained far apart on key issues in the lead-up to the talks, including over what should even be discussed. The Geneva talks follow weeks of difficult negotiations in preparation. The two sides remain far apart on key issues, including over what should even be discussed.
Mr de Mistura said the agenda of negotiations would be based on a 2015 Security Council resolution endorsing a peace process, with the following aims:Mr de Mistura said the agenda of negotiations would be based on a 2015 Security Council resolution endorsing a peace process, with the following aims:
The resolution called for "formal negotiations on [the] political transition" in Syria - a long-standing framework for peace backed by the UN.The resolution called for "formal negotiations on [the] political transition" in Syria - a long-standing framework for peace backed by the UN.
The form of political transition however differs widely between the warring sides. The opposition insists it must include President Assad's departure, while the Syrian government says only elections can decide Mr Assad's future.The form of political transition however differs widely between the warring sides. The opposition insists it must include President Assad's departure, while the Syrian government says only elections can decide Mr Assad's future.
The opposition will be represented at the talks by the High Negotiations Committee - an umbrella group of armed and political factions. The government delegation will be led by Syria's UN ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, a veteran of previous rounds of peace talks.
"Am I expecting a breakthrough? No, I am not expecting a breakthrough," Mr de Mistura told reporters on Wednesday, adding that he hoped the meeting could maintain "a very proactive momentum" for further talks."Am I expecting a breakthrough? No, I am not expecting a breakthrough," Mr de Mistura told reporters on Wednesday, adding that he hoped the meeting could maintain "a very proactive momentum" for further talks.
He also said Russia had asked the Syrian government to halt its aerial bombardment during the talks. The opposition is represented at the talks by the High Negotiations Committee - an umbrella group of armed and political factions. The government delegation is led by Syria's UN ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, a veteran of previous rounds of peace talks.
The talks are expected to start with a series of bilateral meetings on Thursday.