UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Last week, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced a series of one-to-one consultations on Syrian reconciliation. He said that a report will be presented to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the end of June.
He did not elaborate on a complete list of invitees, but added that the list included "various Syrian parties, concerned countries throughout the region, and permanent members of the Security Council."
Haq confirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia's participation in the consultations in Geneva, which may continue for up to six weeks.
Earlier in the day, the United Nations said in a statement that reporters will not be allowed to attend the consultations.
Syria has been in a state of civil war for the past four years, with government forces struggling against various militias, including the Islamic State militant group.
Syria's warring parties have met twice over the last three years at UN-backed Geneva conferences, but failed to reach a practical solution toward ending the violence that has killed more than 220,000 people.