MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-UN ENVOY U.N. envoy arrives in Damascus to meet government officials

Record ID: 149393

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-UN ENVOY U.N. envoy arrives in Damascus to meet government officials
  • Date: 23rd July 2015
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 23, 2015) (REUTERS) U.N. SYRIA ENVOY, STAFFAN DE MISTURA, ARRIVING AT HOTEL VARIOUS OF DE MISTURA SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS EXTERIOR OF HOTEL U.N. VEHICLES PARKED OUTSIDE HOTEL ENTRANCE SIGN READING (Arabic and English): "SHERATON DAMASCUS" VARIOUS OF U.N. VEHICLE OUTSIDE HOTEL DE MISTURA LEAVING HOTEL VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABXC0328CJC5491IW7CXAIBBZ6
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura arrived in Damascus on Thursday (July 23) to hold talks with senior government officials in an effort find ways to to end the conflict.
    De Mistura was received by Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as he arrived from the Lebanese capital Beirut. He later headed to the Syrian foreign ministry.
    He is likely to discuss the results of his current meetings with regional and international players as well as influential parties in the course of the Syrian conflict.
    De Mistura began the talks in May, saying he expected to meet 40 or more delegations for one-on-one discussions in Geneva, including Syrian officials, opposition and civil society along with representatives of governments in the region.
    Diplomats said that by summoning people to Geneva, de Mistura would be in control of the process and the talks would be on neutral ground.
    Syria has been in a civil war since 2011. The country's government is fighting a number of opposition forces as well as radical Islamist militant organisations, including Islamic State.
    According to U.N. estimates, the conflict in Syria has claimed some 220,000 lives.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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