UN special envoy expects Syria talks to resume on April 13

The UN special envoy for Syria said on Thursday he expected intra-Syrian talks to resume on April 13 in Geneva in a bid to seek a political solution to the Syria crisis, a UN spokesman said here.

Envoy Staffan de Mistura "wanted to ensure that the talks will start a political process leading to a real political transition," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

The newly announced date for the resumption of the Syria talks is four days behind the original schedule. The second round of Syrian peace talks was originally slated for April 9.

In the coming days, de Mistura plans to travel to Damascus and Tehran, and also to meet with Turkish, Saudi and other officials, before returning to Geneva in the middle of next week, Haq said.

While in Syria, de Mistura expects to meet with the foreign minister and deputy foreign minister, he said.

"The special envoy added that the proceedings in Geneva are expected once more to start with proximity talks," Haq said.

The first round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva wrapped up on March 24 with a paper of 12 points of commonalities being delivered to both sides for further consideration by de Mistura.

The United Nations said a more positive atmosphere at the March round was helped by a cease-fire in Syria, which was declared on Feb. 27 and remains broadly in place, despite multiple reported violations.

More than 270,000 people have been reportedly killed in Syria and millions have fled their homes since the conflict broke out in March 2011. Endit