All Syrian sides confirm their attendance at peace talks: UN

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian government and rebel delegations have confirmed their attendance at peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week, the United Nations said Tuesday, March 21 despite renewed fighting around Damascus, The Daily Star reports.

"All invitees who had already attended the previous round of talks in February 2017 have confirmed their participation", UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters.

She said UN mediator Staffan de Mistura was currently visiting key powers shaping the conflict -- including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey -- before returning to Geneva to lead the talks.

As de Mistura "completes these consultations, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy (Ezzeldin Ramzy) will engage the parties bilaterally on 23 March in Geneva to prepare the round ahead," Vellucci said.

The participation of all rebel groups could bolster the UN peace process, after some opposition camps refused to attend separate negotiations in Kazakhstan last week to protest violations of a shaky ceasefire by the Syrian government.

The parallel series of talks in Astana is aimed at bolstering the truce, in view of supporting the UN negotiations.

Damascus has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days, with rebels and extremists making large incursions into the east of the Syrian capital.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's government has responded with air strikes on rebel positions.