LOC21:37
18:37 GMT
GENEVA, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- The UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura has announced that he does not expect any breakthrough in Thursday's new round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.
"Am I expecting a breakthrough? No I am not expecting a breakthrough," de Mistura told reporters on Wednesday on the eve of a new round of talks in Geneva between negotiators from Syria's regime and the opposition after a 10-month hiatus.
"The intra-Syrian negotiations agenda will be defined by Security Council resolution 2254," he stressed.
He viewed that new talks can create some momentum towards political transition in the war-torn country.
He urged all parties involved to stay away from any provocative statements or actions that could hinder the efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Russia has asked the Syrian government to halt military aerial operations during the Geneva negotiations, de Mistura announced.
The talks have been stalled since April last year when the opposition walked out to protest mounting attacks by government security forces. (end)
ta.ibi