UN’s special envoy for Syria to attend Sochi talks

UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that in making the decision to send his envoy, US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took into account Russia's assertion that the outcome of the Sochi meeting, which will be held on  January 29th and 30th, would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the UN-backed intra-Syrian talks, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254.

“The Secretary-General is confident that the Congress in Sochi will be an important contribution to a revived intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva, based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communique and Security Council resolution 2254,” said Mr. Dujarric.

The Syrian Dialogue Congress is expected to gather more than 1,500 representatives of Syrian society: opposition and pro-government forces, as well as representatives of Syria's numerous ethnic and religious groups, and the delegations from states participating in the peace process, with the United Nations and several regional and international organizations present as observers./.