Chief Syrian negotiator: "Terrorist operations escalating"

GENEVA, March 24 (KUNA) -- Bashar Al-Jaafari, the chief of the Syrian government delegation involved in the conciliation talks for resolving the Syrian crisis, said on Friday that he held talks with the UN envoy Staffan de Mistura focusing on combating terrorism.
Speaking at a news conference after the meeting with de Mistura, Al-Jaafari said the issue was raised at the negotiating table in light of escalating "terrorist operations in countrysides of Damascus and Hama." Al-Jaafari indicated that he and the UN envoy assessed results of previous rounds of talks held in Astana and Geneva, noting that the mounting "terrorist operations" are aimed at undermining the political process.
He accused the "higher negotiating authority," the mainstream opposition grouping involved in the political conciliation process, of "supporting terrorism." Name and structure of Al-Nusra Front have been changed several times after the UN has designated it as a "terrorist organization," he adds.
Al-Jaafari denounced Security Council permanent members' rejection of condemning bombing attacks in Homs, the justice palace in Damascus as well as a recent artillery attack on the Russian embassy building in the Syrian capital.
Justifications that have been made by the opposition groups regarding the military operations "indicate their tendencies to support terrorism and reveal their affiliations to foreign agendas," he charged further.
The international trouble-shooter de Mistura is expected to meet a delegation of the Syrian opposition later on Friday in a new round of talks over prospected implementation of the Security Coucnil resolution 2245.
The Security Council resolution 2245, adopted in 2015, envisages cessation of fighting in Syria, setting the stage for transitional governing of the war-torn nation and paving way for a final and viable settlement.
De Mistura has been engaged in a series of rounds of talks between the Damascus government and the opposition to ensure the guns get silenced and try reach consensus on some form of transitional rule. Russia for its part is architect of talks of such level in Astana.
However, some of the internal Syrian frontlines are currently witnessing stepped-up attacks and counter-attacks, particularly in the countryside of the capital and the city of Homs. (end) ta.rk