MOSCOW: Representatives of Syrian President Bashar Assad and opposition figures agreed at talks Thursday to hold another round in Moscow, moderator Vitaly Naumkin said Thursday, but no date was set.
The talks, a Russian initiative to revive stalled peace efforts in Syria’s 4-year-old civil war, were shunned by the main Syrian political opposition, and participants came together to adopt a series of points that largely represent Russia’s own position on the violence. Moscow is a key backer of Assad.
Naumkin, an academic, said the sides agreed to join forces over the threat of terrorism in Syria, where ISIS insurgents have taken over wide swathes of territory, though Moscow has described numerous other anti-Assad groups fighting in the country as “terrorists.”
“The issue of fighting terrorism was one of the key themes discussed. This is exactly what brings the sides together as a key challenge to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity,” Naumkin said.
He said the talks offered the best chance at reaching another round of peace negotiations between the government and opposition in Geneva. The latest round of Geneva talks, the Geneva II conference, was held early last year.