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Russia calls for "energetic" efforts of Syrian forces in peace talks

Xinhua, April 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday called on all involved sides to make joint and "energetic" endeavor for the intra-Syrian peace process.

"The situation in the negotiation process is very tense," Peskov was quoted as saying by the Tass news agency as he commented on the intra-Syrian peace talks held in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 13 to 27.

Peskov also reaffirmed Moscow's openness for cooperation with the United States and other interested countries on the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

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

The envoy also called on the United States and Russia, the two most significant players within the International Syria Support Group framework, to act immediately to restore the ceasefire in Syria and eliminate elements that endanger the peace talks.

A regime of ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States came into force on Feb. 27.

Despite repetitive breaches now and then, the truce is relatively holding in Damascus in comparison with other cities, while sources in Aleppo said the truce there has completely collapsed.

The escalation of violence in Aleppo came in parallel with the faltering round of Geneva talks, during which the opposition Higher Negotiations Committee withdrew from the meeting and its chief negotiator, Muhammad Alloush, urged his rebel followers on ground in Syria to inflame the situation and carry out attacks on government forces. Endi