Syrian peace talks take back seat to auto show
U.N. special envoy blames delay on ‘logistical problems’
The resumption of Syrian peace talks in Geneva has been postponed by two days because of logistical problems, including a scheduling conflict with an auto show that grabbed up hotel rooms, the U.N. special envoy for Syria said Thursday.
Staffan de Mistura said the cease-fire that took effect Saturday in Syria is largely holding and has “greatly reduced” violence, despite sporadic clashes in some places.
He spoke to reporters in Geneva before convening the third meeting of the “cessation of hostilities” task force, led by the U.S. and Russia, that includes world and regional powers monitoring the truce.
Mistura, who initially was shooting for a resumption of the formal peace talks Monday, said he penciled in Wednesday instead, noting “logistical” troubles including the Geneva Motor Show could reduce the number of available hotel rooms.
“We need to have a penciled date and we need to make sure that everyone knows that this is not open-ended,” he said, the Associated Press reported.
“We need to maintain pressure both on the success of the cessation of hostilities and the delivery of aid in order to make sure that they do give a feeling of credibility to the people in Syria.”