"As part of the preparation for the next series of humanitarian convoys to the settlements of the East Ghouta district, the leadership of the Reconciliation Center conducted phone negotiations with the leaders of the armed opposition," the center said in a statement, stressing that "an agreement was reached on observing the ceasefire regime and ensuring the security of the next UN humanitarian convoy to East Ghouta."
In addition, Russian military officials have noted that the US, despite existing accords, has not sent its approval to the United Nations on the supply of humanitarian aid to the Al-Rukban refugee camp.
"The leadership of the Center for Syrian Reconciliation continues its activities aimed at deliveries of the humanitarian aid to the Al-Rukban refugee camp… Despite the agreements reached before with the leadership of the US military contingent based in At Tanf, the US side has not sent its approval to the United Nations in line with the prescribed procedure that hinders the beginning of practical steps to prepare humanitarian convoys," the statement said.
Syrian Opposition Elects Its Leader Ahead of Geneva Talks
Participants of the recent Syrian opposition meeting in Riyadh have determined the composition of the unified delegation at the Geneva talks, Firas Khalidi, a member of the Cairo platform, told Sputnik on Friday.
Firas Khalidi added that envoys have also elected Syria's main opposition High Negotiations Committee leader Nasr Hariri to head a unified delegation at the upcoming round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva. Hariri led a delegation of the Saudi-backed opposition HNC at the previous round of Geneva talks this summer.
“There was consensus between the various groups to choose Nasr Hariri as head of the Higher Negotiations Committee to lead the Syria opposition delegation in the coming #Geneva talks,” said Ahmad Ramadan, spokesman of the #Istanbul-based Syrian National Coalition.
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) 25 ноября 2017 г.
📸 pic.twitter.com/7mKiWo0GCe
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will continue keeping a close watch on the issues related to the settlement of the Syrian conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement.
"During the meeting Lavrov informed [de Mistura] about the recent international contacts held by the Russian side on the Syrian agenda, including about the outcome of the trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey in Sochi on November 22 that has supported the convocation of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress… It has been agreed to continue maintaining close contact on the entire range of issues of Syrian settlement," the statement said, following the Moscow's meeting of top diplomats.
Moscow helped 'prepare ground for a political process' in Syria — de Mistura https://t.co/SihMw9WBZ0 pic.twitter.com/KwHbIQHppl
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) 24 ноября 2017 г.
The statement stressed that the UN official had highly appreciated Russia's efforts aimed at Syrian reconciliation.
Syria has been engulfed in a civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition factions and terrorist groups. The international community, including Russia, has taken a number of steps aimed to settle the crisis, including via talks in Geneva and Astana.
