This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39037609

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Syria's warring sides brought together for Geneva talks Syria peace talks: Sides fail to meet on first day in Geneva
(about 9 hours later)
UN-sponsored peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition are under way in Geneva for the first time in nearly a year. The first day of Syrian peace talks at the United Nations have failed to bring the two sides together in direct negotiations.
The two sides will not meet face-to-face to begin with. Expectations were low as government and opposition groups arrived in Geneva for the first time in almost a year.
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, met separately with both delegations, but they did not speak with one another.
The opposition is insisting that the fate of President Bashar al-Assad is on the agenda - something the government has refused to discuss. If talks proceed, they are expected to last several rounds.
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. The first day ended with a welcoming ceremony in the UN's grand assembly hall, which seated the opposing delegations together in the same room - but no discussion or negotiation took place.
While hopes of a breakthrough at the talks are low, much has changed since the last round broke down in April 2016. "Let's try to work together ... I know it is not easy," Mr de Mistura told the assembled delegates.
"It is your opportunity and solemn responsibility ... not to condemn future generations of Syrian children to long years of bitter and bloody conflict."
He said that if the peace talks failed again the cost would be "more deaths, more atrocities". He added: "We can do a lot of good work while we hope the ceasefire holds."
Mr de Mistura said that he hoped progress would be made later in the night and in the days ahead. Yet key differences remain between the two sides. The opposition has insisted that the fate of President Bashar al-Assad is on the agenda - something the government and its ally Russia have dismissed.
As the talks began, there were reports of continued violence in Syria - something UN diplomats had warned could imperil the talks at an early stage.
The conflict in Syria is technically under a ceasefire agreement negotiated with the aid of Russia and Turkey - key allies of the government and rebels - but both sides have accused the other of constant violations.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a monitoring group, reported that government planes had carried out air strikes in the Deraa and Hama provinces. It also reported clashes between the groups in western Aleppo province.
However, ahead of the negotiations, the group said violence had been lower than in recent days. 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. 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.
Any major violation of the fragile ceasefire could derail the process, UN diplomats have warned.
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 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.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 reiterated that 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.
"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.
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 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.