Roundup: Syria talks still alive despite persisting differences: UN envoy

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Thursday that while deep-seated differences continue to permeate intra-Syrian peace talks, the latest round of discussions has achieved progress on a number of key points.

Both sides seem to agree that only a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition can end a five-year war that has killed some 400,000 people and displaced millions more, the envoy told the press after briefing the UN Security Council in New York.

The Syrian government delegation and its opposition counterpart, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), also believe that a political transition should be overseen by a new, credible and inclusive transitional government, he added.

Amongst other things, both parties agreed that Syria needs a new constitution, which will be drafted under the supervision of the transitional government.

However, the envoy declined to comment if the two sides are any closer toward a compromise regarding the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The UN envoy also noted that the latest Syria peace talks in Geneva were overshadowed by a substantial deterioration of the current ceasefire.

"In the last 48 hours we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes, and one Syrian wounded every 13 minutes," he said, "How can you have substantial talks when you only have news of bombing and shelling?"

He called upon members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to reconvene as soon as possible in a bid to put negotiations back on track.

The United States and Russia, the two most significant players within the ISSG framework, should act immediately to restore the ceasefire in Syria and eliminate elements that endanger the peace talks, said the envoy.

The exact date for the next round of talks will be announced in May, de Mistura said. Endi