Syrian peace talks set for January
- 11 years ago
The United Nations announces a peace summit for Syria starting on January 22 in Geneva.
With more than 100,000 dead in the civil war in Syria since 2011, the summit will mark the first direct talks between the government of President Bashir al-Assad and the rebels looking to overthrow him.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the goal the so-called "Geneva 2" conference will be transitional government in Syria.
Soundbite: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying:
"We have a full goal, the full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012 - including the establishment, based on mutual consent, of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, including over military and security entities."
On Monday, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria - Lakhdar Brahimi - met with U.S. and Russian officials in Geneva.
A major stumbling block in the negotiations had been whether Syria's ally - Iran - would attend the conference.
U.N. spe
With more than 100,000 dead in the civil war in Syria since 2011, the summit will mark the first direct talks between the government of President Bashir al-Assad and the rebels looking to overthrow him.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the goal the so-called "Geneva 2" conference will be transitional government in Syria.
Soundbite: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying:
"We have a full goal, the full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012 - including the establishment, based on mutual consent, of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, including over military and security entities."
On Monday, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria - Lakhdar Brahimi - met with U.S. and Russian officials in Geneva.
A major stumbling block in the negotiations had been whether Syria's ally - Iran - would attend the conference.
U.N. spe