Latest Round of Intra-Syria Talks Created Basis for Political Negotiations

GENEVA (Sputnik) — Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee (HNC) believes the current round of intra-Syrian talks managed to create the basis for substantial discussion of political transition in Syria at the next round of talks in April, HNC spokeswoman said Thursday.

The latest round of negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition forces kicked off on March 14.

"We now have the basis for substantive tasks next round… Over the coming two weeks, we hope, it will lead us directly to substantive discussion about political transition," Bassma Kodmani told reporters.

HNC hopes that Moscow at the talks with US State Secretary John Kerry will grasp the opportunity to secure the international consensus on the solution to the Syrian conflict, according to an HNC spokeswoman.

"This is a unique moment [Geneva talks]… We hope Russia will seize this moment while talks are happening in Moscow to ensure international consensus [on the need to bring peace to Syria] is implemented," Bassma Kodmani told reporters after the meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

On Wednesday, Kerry arrived in the Russian capital for a two-day visit. The following day, Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian situation in Syria, among other issues, during almost four-hour talks. Kerry is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to the government of President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

The latest round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces opened on March 14 in Geneva and is due to wrap up later on Thursday.