“A Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadiy Gatilov will hold consultations with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on November 14. During the meeting, [the sides] will discuss the issues of preparation for the next round of the intra-Syria talks in Geneva, as well as for the Congress of National Dialogue of Syrians,” the Russian mission to the UN office in Geneva told Sputnik.
Russia-initiated Syrian National Dialogue Congress was expected to take place in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi on November 18 to bring together a vast number of the opposition and pro-governmental forces, as well as representatives of all ethnical and religious groups of Syria, but later was postponed. The Congress is aimed at pushing forward the process of the political settlement in Syria and addressing the issues of the future Syrian constitution, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections.
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The three opposition platforms, formed in Cairo, Moscow and Riyadh, met in Saudi Arabia in August, but were unable to form a delegation.
According to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, the eight round of talks in Geneva will begin on November 28.
