UN envoy will not participate in Syria peace talks

The United Nations special envoy for the Syria crisis, Staffan de Mistura, will not be taking part in forthcoming negotiations in Estonia on the Syrian crisis, a UN spokesperson revealed yesterday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a press conference at United Nations Headquarters in New York: “We’re not seeing the talks in Astana as competing talks; rather, as part of the same supportive process that will lead to the talks in Geneva.”

Responding to questions from reporters about whether or not the UN would be represented at the talks, Dujarric said: “Not at Mr de Mistura’s level as far as I know.”

A ceasefire in Syria came into effect last Friday, following negotiations between Turkey, Russia and Syria.