UNSC urges Syrians to participate in talks with no preconditions

NEW YORK, Feb 1 (KUNA) -- UN Security Council encouraged late Tuesday the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to re-convene the Syrian parties to participate in peace talks without having preconditions.
The UN Security Council members heard the briefing by de Mistura, and reiterated their support for the UN efforts to facilitate the lasting political settlement of the Syrian crisis through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.
De Mistura announced the Geneva talks to reconvene by February 20th.
The Council members reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and reiterated that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process based on the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012 as endorsed by the UNSC resolutions 2118, 2254, 2268, 2336 and relevant statements of the International Syria Support Group.
The members of the Security Council welcomed the International Meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan, as anticipated in the Security Council resolution 2336.
Therefore, they welcomed the talks between the Government of Syria and armed opposition groups with involvement of the UN Envoy for Syria and expressed their appreciation to the President of Kazakhstan for hosting the event.
The 15-member body said in their press statement that they took note of the Joint Statement by Iran, Turkey and Russia adopted on the outcome of the talks, encouraging the Syrian parties to "fully implement the ceasefire established pursuant to the arrangements of December 29, 2016." Further, the Council emphasized that the International Meeting on Syria in Astana constituted a step towards a strengthened ceasefire and hope it will lead to a further reduction of its violations, to progress in reaching a political settlement and to efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist activities by the so-called Islamic State (IS), the Al-Nusra Front and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.
Noting the continued need to secure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access across Syria in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, the members recognized the Astana Meeting as an important step towards the resumption of intra-Syrian negotiations under the auspices of the UN. (end) mao.gta