Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov described the summit hosted by the United Nations as ‘constructive’. The talks, which UN Special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura declared as “imperative to assure the success of a nationwide cessation of hostilities between the government and opposition, is said by diplomats attending the meetings to be “more constructive than expected.”
“We have had a constructive discussion (eds note: refers talks with Staffan de Mistura) and we have hope that the political process will get an additional impulse, especially on the new constitution. De Mistura is working on it now and his task is to persuade the Syrian sides to show a constructive approach to that matter,” said Gatilov.
The sixth round of talks kicked-off on Tuesday in Geneva, with de Mistura saying the summit will be shorter and more business-like in order to achieve efficiency and make real progress. However, he also stressed that there was no solution to Syria’s devastating six-year war, without a political settlement on the horizon, warning that the alternative is surrendering to the facts on the ground.