Syria is ready to cooperate with new UN envoy Geir Pedersen as long as he avoids the methods of his predecessor, its deputy foreign minister said in remarks published Sunday.

Pedersen, who assumes the role at the end of November, is the fourth negotiator to have been appointed the UN's special envoy to Syria since the country's war broke out in 2011.

A seasoned Norwegian diplomat, he replaces Staffan de Mistura, who announced he is leaving the post last month after a four-year stint.

"Syria will cooperate with the new UN envoy Geir Pedersen provided he avoids the methods of his predecessor," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad said, quoted by Al-Watan newspaper.

It would work with him if "he announces his support for the unity of Syria's land and people and does not side with the terrorists as his predecessor did," he added, referring to rebel groups.

The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has long accused de Mistura of bias during his tenure.

Its opponents have said the change in UN envoy would have little impact on the fate of the country as international will and consensus were lacking.

Yahya al-Aridi, spokesman for the Syrian Negotiations Commission, this week told AFP he hoped Pedersen would be "more decisive" and call things out for what they are.

De Mistura, an Italian-Swedish diplomat, announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family after four years in the demanding post.

He had been appointed in July 2014 after veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi resigned following two years in the position.

Brahimi stepped in after late UN chief Kofi Annan quit just six months into the role which he described as "mission impossible".

Pedersen was a member of the Norwegian team to the secret negotiations that led to the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians.

Syria is ready to cooperate with new UN envoy Geir Pedersen as long as he avoids the methods of his predecessor, its deputy foreign minister said in remarks published Sunday.

Syria is ready to cooperate with new UN envoy Geir Pedersen as long as he avoids the methods of his predecessor, its deputy foreign minister said in remarks published Sunday. Pedersen, who assumes the role at the end of November, is the fourth negotiator to have been appointed the UN's special envoy to Syria since the country's war broke out in 2011. A seasoned Norwegian diplomat, he replaces Staffan de Mistura, who announced he is leaving the post last month after a four-year stint. "Syria will cooperate with the new UN envoy Geir Pedersen provided he avoids the methods of his predecessor," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad said, quoted by Al-Watan newspaper. It would work with him if "he announces his support for the unity of Syria's land and people and does not side with the terrorists as his predecessor did," he added, referring to rebel groups. The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has long accused de Mistura of bias during his tenure. Its opponents have said the change in UN envoy would have little impact on the fate of the country as international will and consensus were lacking. Yahya al-Aridi, spokesman for the Syrian Negotiations Commission, this week told AFP he hoped Pedersen would be "more decisive" and call things out for what they are. De Mistura, an Italian-Swedish diplomat, announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family after four years in the demanding post. He had been appointed in July 2014 after veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi resigned following two years in the position. Brahimi stepped in after late UN chief Kofi Annan quit just six months into the role which he described as "mission impossible". Pedersen was a member of the Norwegian team to the secret negotiations that led to the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians.

Ready to cooperate with new UN envoy: Syria

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Syria peace negotiator to a conference in Russia next week, a spokesman said Saturday, despite the Syrian opposition&#39;s boycott of the meeting.

Guterres &quot;is confident that the Congress in Sochi will be an important contribution&quot; to reviving the peace talks held under UN auspices in Geneva, a UN spokesman said in a statement.

Russia had long sought UN participation in the conference opening Monday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to lend credibility to its diplomatic efforts to end the six-year war.

Hours earlier, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura ended a ninth round of UN-sponsored talks in Vienna, with no sign of progress toward a peace deal.

&quot;I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date,&quot; De Mistura said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric indicated that Guterres had received assurances that the Sochi conference would not seek to sideline the UN talks.&nbsp;

Guterres was briefed by De Mistura on the outcome of the Vienna talks, and has taken into account a statement from Russia that the result of the Sochi conference &quot;would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations,&quot; the spokesman said in a statement.

The UN chief has &quot;decided to accept the invitation of the Russian Federation to send a representative to attend the Sochi Congress&quot; and has asked De Mistura to go, he added.

Russia has invited more than 1,500 delegates to the two-day conference that the West views with suspicion.

In Vienna, the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) announced it would not be attending the Sochi conference.

Assad&#39;s fate&nbsp;

The main opposition coalition fears that Russia will push a peace deal that will keep President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s authority intact after six years of bloodshed.

The Russian foreign ministry welcomed Guterres&#39; decision and said the Vienna talks had &quot;focused in particular on the problems of constitutional reform&quot; - a process that could determine whether or how Assad remains in power.

&quot;On these issues, a mutual agreement was reached between the Russian side and the UN representatives, on the sidelines of the Vienna meeting,&quot; said a foreign ministry statement issued in Moscow.

On the ground, Syrian forces have pressed on with an offensive in rebel-held Idlib launched in late December, with Russian backing.&nbsp;

Assad&#39;s forces were on the defensive in the first few years of the war, but since Russia militarily intervened in 2015 they have regained the upper hand.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain and France have put forward a proposal that would involve strengthening the role of Syria&#39;s prime minister -- at the expense of Assad&#39;s authority, according to a leaked document circulated online.

Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told reporters in Vienna it was &quot;tantamount to a black comedy&quot; that these countries were seeking to shape Syria&#39;s political future.

&quot;All of them have participated in the bloodshed of the Syrian people,&quot; he said of the five nations, blasting the United States as the country &quot;that created ISIS,&quot; and adding that Saudi Arabia was anything but a &quot;beacon of freedom in the east.&quot;

Two weeks ago, Turkey launched air strikes and shelling against Kurdish militias in northern Syria, marking a dangerous new escalation in the conflict.

That development has raised tensions between Turkey - which along with Iran backs the Russian conference in Sochi - and the United States, which has supported the Kurdish militias in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group.

More than 340,000 people have died in the war, millions have fled their homes and the fighting has left the country in ruins. 
&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Syria peace negotiator to a conference in Russia next week

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Syria peace negotiator to a conference in Russia next week, a spokesman said Saturday, despite the Syrian opposition's boycott of the meeting. Guterres "is confident that the Congress in Sochi will be an important contribution" to reviving the peace talks held under UN auspices in Geneva, a UN spokesman said in a statement. Russia had long sought UN participation in the conference opening Monday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to lend credibility to its diplomatic efforts to end the six-year war. Hours earlier, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura ended a ninth round of UN-sponsored talks in Vienna, with no sign of progress toward a peace deal. "I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date," De Mistura said. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric indicated that Guterres had received assurances that the Sochi conference would not seek to sideline the UN talks. Guterres was briefed by De Mistura on the outcome of the Vienna talks, and has taken into account a statement from Russia that the result of the Sochi conference "would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations," the spokesman said in a statement. The UN chief has "decided to accept the invitation of the Russian Federation to send a representative to attend the Sochi Congress" and has asked De Mistura to go, he added. Russia has invited more than 1,500 delegates to the two-day conference that the West views with suspicion. In Vienna, the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) announced it would not be attending the Sochi conference. Assad's fate The main opposition coalition fears that Russia will push a peace deal that will keep President Bashar al-Assad's authority intact after six years of bloodshed. The Russian foreign ministry welcomed Guterres' decision and said the Vienna talks had "focused in particular on the problems of constitutional reform" - a process that could determine whether or how Assad remains in power. "On these issues, a mutual agreement was reached between the Russian side and the UN representatives, on the sidelines of the Vienna meeting," said a foreign ministry statement issued in Moscow. On the ground, Syrian forces have pressed on with an offensive in rebel-held Idlib launched in late December, with Russian backing. Assad's forces were on the defensive in the first few years of the war, but since Russia militarily intervened in 2015 they have regained the upper hand. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain and France have put forward a proposal that would involve strengthening the role of Syria's prime minister -- at the expense of Assad's authority, according to a leaked document circulated online. Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told reporters in Vienna it was "tantamount to a black comedy" that these countries were seeking to shape Syria's political future. "All of them have participated in the bloodshed of the Syrian people," he said of the five nations, blasting the United States as the country "that created ISIS," and adding that Saudi Arabia was anything but a "beacon of freedom in the east." Two weeks ago, Turkey launched air strikes and shelling against Kurdish militias in northern Syria, marking a dangerous new escalation in the conflict. That development has raised tensions between Turkey - which along with Iran backs the Russian conference in Sochi - and the United States, which has supported the Kurdish militias in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group. More than 340,000 people have died in the war, millions have fled their homes and the fighting has left the country in ruins.

UN will send Syria envoy to Russia conference

UN-led peace talks on Syria have been postponed until February 20 to allow a ceasefire to take hold and to give the opposition time to present a united front, the UN envoy said Tuesday.

The talks in Geneva had been scheduled to begin on February 8 but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week announced they would be delayed, without providing reasons.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told a closed meeting of the Security Council that the postponement would help bolster preparations for the talks aimed at ending the nearly six-year war.

&quot;We want to give a chance both to the government to become seriously engaged in discussions and the opposition (...) to actually be able to be given a chance to come with one unified opposition,&quot; De Mistura told reporters after the meeting.

Russia, Iran and Turkey last week led talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana on shoring up a ceasefire in Syria, where more than 310,000 people have died.

&quot;If the ceasefire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the Syria talks,&quot; said the envoy.

The Syrian opposition has been divided over representation to the talks.

De Mistura warned that if the opposition failed to agree on the composition of the delegation by February 8, he will select the representatives from the various groups who will come to the peace table.

&quot;If by the 8th of February, the opposition will not be ready to come up with a unified group, I will have to ....actually select the delegation in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible,&quot; he said.The council heard a report from De Mistura amid concerns that the Astana discussions could open up a new track of negotiations.

During the Astana talks, Russia, Syria`s main ally, presented opposition rebels with a draft constitution that was immediately rejected by the groups.

The unilateral move by Russia raised concern in Western capitals.

&quot;We have been concerned that the Geneva talks have been delayed and we would be concerned if there were any watering down of the basis of those talks,&quot; British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters.

&quot;It`s very important that there is confirmation that the UN will lead the next round of talks,&quot; said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this month`s council president.

&quot;The UN has to be front and center in the political process,&quot; said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.

He cited the need to respect the Geneva communique agreed with Russia that calls for a transition in Syria.

&quot;We start with a transition, then the constitution, and then the elections,&quot; said Delattre. &quot;I think if we can all stay on this line, then we can move.&quot;

Previous UN-led talks have broken down over disagreements on ensuring a transition in Damascus that would lead to President Bashar al-Assad`s exit from power.

Western powers have for weeks questioned the purpose of the Astana talks and raised concern that they could sideline the Geneva talks.

Turkey, which backs rebel forces, has for the first time conceded that a peace deal that excludes Assad from power might not be possible.

The new date was announced after US Ambassador Nikki Haley meet with De Mistura on Monday to discuss the way forward in Syria.

(AFP)

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told a closed meeting of the Security Council that the postponement would help bolster preparations for the talk

UN-led peace talks on Syria have been postponed until February 20 to allow a ceasefire to take hold and to give the opposition time to present a united front, the UN envoy said Tuesday. The talks in Geneva had been scheduled to begin on February 8 but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week announced they would be delayed, without providing reasons. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told a closed meeting of the Security Council that the postponement would help bolster preparations for the talks aimed at ending the nearly six-year war. "We want to give a chance both to the government to become seriously engaged in discussions and the opposition (...) to actually be able to be given a chance to come with one unified opposition," De Mistura told reporters after the meeting. Russia, Iran and Turkey last week led talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana on shoring up a ceasefire in Syria, where more than 310,000 people have died. "If the ceasefire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the Syria talks," said the envoy. The Syrian opposition has been divided over representation to the talks. De Mistura warned that if the opposition failed to agree on the composition of the delegation by February 8, he will select the representatives from the various groups who will come to the peace table. "If by the 8th of February, the opposition will not be ready to come up with a unified group, I will have to ....actually select the delegation in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible," he said.The council heard a report from De Mistura amid concerns that the Astana discussions could open up a new track of negotiations. During the Astana talks, Russia, Syria`s main ally, presented opposition rebels with a draft constitution that was immediately rejected by the groups. The unilateral move by Russia raised concern in Western capitals. "We have been concerned that the Geneva talks have been delayed and we would be concerned if there were any watering down of the basis of those talks," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters. "It`s very important that there is confirmation that the UN will lead the next round of talks," said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this month`s council president. "The UN has to be front and center in the political process," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre. He cited the need to respect the Geneva communique agreed with Russia that calls for a transition in Syria. "We start with a transition, then the constitution, and then the elections," said Delattre. "I think if we can all stay on this line, then we can move." Previous UN-led talks have broken down over disagreements on ensuring a transition in Damascus that would lead to President Bashar al-Assad`s exit from power. Western powers have for weeks questioned the purpose of the Astana talks and raised concern that they could sideline the Geneva talks. Turkey, which backs rebel forces, has for the first time conceded that a peace deal that excludes Assad from power might not be possible. The new date was announced after US Ambassador Nikki Haley meet with De Mistura on Monday to discuss the way forward in Syria. (AFP)

Syria peace initiative: UN-backed talks postponed till February 20