HNC says seeks direct talks with Damascus in Geneva
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The photo shows a meeting between UN officials and members of the Syria's foreign-backed militant group in Geneva, Switzerland, April 22, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's main foreign-backed militant group says it seeks face-to-face negotiations with Damascus in the upcoming round of peace talks due to be held in Geneva on February 23.
According to Press TV, on Wednesday, Salim al-Muslit, the Spokesman for the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC) claimed he supported direct talks between the HNC and the Syrian government.
"We want direct talks, I mean direct negotiations, just to save time and save lives because every day is costly for Syrians," the militant figure claimed.
Muslit, however, said the militant group had yet to receive an agenda for the upcoming negotiations.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Muslit said the HNC sought to start the negotiations by discussing a governing body to oversee what he said was a transition of power.
United Nations' Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has already made clear that the agenda of the peace talks in Geneva will not be changed.
De Mistura says the talks will be in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 aimed at ending the conflict in the Arab country.
The resolution, which was unanimously adopted in December 2015, aims to establish governance and come up with a new constitution.
"That is the agenda and we will not change it, otherwise we open up a Pandora's box," said de Mistura.
This is going to be the first time delegations of the Syrian government and foreign-backed militant group will return to Geneva since the talks were suspended in 2016.
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