Syria remains committed to dialogue: FM

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to inter-Syrian dialogue without preconditions.

According to Press TV, in a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in Damascus on Tuesday, al-Muallem said that the Syrian government and its delegation to Geneva showed seriousness in the recent Geneva peace talks for the resolution of the ongoing crisis.

The Syrian minister also said that his government will continue to protect citizens and distribute humanitarian aid, chiefly in the zones controlled by terrorist groups.

The meeting comes days after diplomats from a group of countries in Munich, including the US, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, agreed to seek a temporary "cessation of hostilities" in Syria within a week.

The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) also agreed to "accelerate and expand" deliveries of humanitarian aid to various besieged Syrian towns.

The agreement on Friday came following a marathon meeting in Munich, aimed at resurrecting peace talks that collapsed last week.

Sources say the Syrian truce does not include areas held by terrorist groups.

UN Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a news briefing in the Swiss city of Geneva that de Mistura would also discuss with Damascus the possibility of resuming peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups scheduled for February 25. The UN spokesman also appealed to the regional countries and international community to use their influence to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table.

ME