UN envoy sees Syria presidential election in 18 months' time: media

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations hopes that the first round of resumed intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva will result in an agreement on a new government, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told Sputnik.

"The most important part is the three-point agenda, which has been defined by the Security Council and which the Russian Federation has adopted, too. The first one is an all-inclusive new government," de Mistura said in an interview.

According to the UN envoy, the other two key issues to be discussed at the Geneva talks between the Syrian government and opposition delegates are the adoption of a new constitution and elections.

“The second one is a new constitution and the third one is new elections in 18 months. The starting point for the election will be the latest round of Syria peace talks which are planned for March 14 in Geneva,” de Mistura said.

Issues that remain unresolved after the March 14-24 talks between the Syrian government and the opposition will be discussed in the format of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), de Mistura said, according to Sputnik.

According to the UN envoy, a new approach is being adopted for the meetings called "proximity staggered talks" which will allow de Mistura to meet various groups both at the UN office in Geneva, as well as at the hotel or other places.