UN peace talks on Syria delayed until February 20, diplomats

The UN-led peace talks on Syria have been postponed until February 20, the UN special envoy told the Security Council on Tuesday, according to diplomats at the closed meeting.

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 said the delay would give the Syrian opposition more time to prepare and ensure that the talks are as inclusive as possible, two diplomats told AFP.

Russia, Iran and Turkey last week led talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana on shoring up a ceasefire in Syria, where more than 400.000 people have killed in nearly six years of Assad terrorists’ war on Syrians.

Invitations to attend the Geneva talks will be sent out on February 8, De Mistura told the council, according to diplomats.