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HNC to Stay in Geneva Until ‘At Least’ Week-End

© REUTERS / Denis Balibouse/FilesThe delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura are seen at the start of a meeting during Syria peace talks at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in this March 17, 2016 file photo
The delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura are seen at the start of a meeting during Syria peace talks at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in this March 17, 2016 file photo - Sputnik International
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HNC member Monzer Makhous said that the committee plans to stay in Geneva at least until the end of the week.

Syrian Ambassador to the U.N. Bashar Jaafari holds a news conference during the Syrian Peace talks at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, February 2, 2016 - Sputnik International
HNC Unprepared to Engage in Syria Settlement - Damascus Delegation
GENEVA (Sputnik) – The Syrian opposition High-Negotiations Committee (HNC) plans to stay in Geneva at least until the end of the week, HNC member Monzer Makhous told Sputnik on Monday.

The Saudi-backed group announced earlier in the day it was "postponing" participation in the UN-mediated negotiations that resumed late last week.

"We will stay until at least the end of the week. If there is some progress, some signs that things will be settled, we will continue. If not, of course we will leave," Makhous said.

He stressed that the opposition delegation would return to the negotiating table "once there is real progress, any day, at any moment."

"We are not moving away from the political process. These are two different things. We will continue the process, but we will abstain from the talks," Makhous said.

He stressed that the Saudi-backed group does not put forward any preconditions in its decision to postpone the proximity talks with the Syrian government delegation.

"Our demand is to implement the [UN] Security Council decision," Makhous added.

"Our decisions have been essentially completely unanimous. I am not saying 100 percent, but the vast majority completely agrees, there is no disagreement between people who represent the civil opposition or the military," Makhous said.

"Naturally, the people who are fighting on the ground are more demanding. But we still maintain the same line," the Saudi-backed opposition group’s spokesman added.

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