- Title: Optimism prevails at Davos ahead of Syria talks in Astana
- Date: 19th January 2017
- Summary: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DELEGATES AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF) CONGRESS HALL CLOSE OF HAND HOLDING A MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES SAYING: "We strongly encourage the possibility of a Syria talk to preserve the ceasefire, to create the conditions for a political dialogue to be established in the near future. And the U.N. will of course fully participate, will fully support any effort to bring the parties together." GUTERRES WALKING AWAY TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEHMET SIMSEK WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MEHMET SIMSEK SAYING: "There is real hope about Astana summit, because obviously Russia is a key player, Turkey is an important player, actor, and Iran is important and the United States. So all these countries are likely to meet in Astana and try and find a lasting settlement. For at least a period, some sort of solution that might lead to a more lasting settlement." DELEGATES AT HALLWAY MAN READING A NEWSPAPER (SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MEHMET SIMSEK, SAYING: "We welcome Russia's sort of increased focus on combating ISIS. Of course we welcome United States also combating you know, ISIS. And Turkey has boots on the ground and is literally fighting, we call it, but anyway ISIS." SIMSEK WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2017 15:19
- Keywords: UN Turkey Astana Syria
- Location: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- City: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZR08XZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday (January 19) that the United Nations would fully participate in the peace talks convened by Russia, Turkey and Iran in the Kazakh capital Astana in a bid to preserve the Syrian ceasefire.
Guterres made the comment whilst holding meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"We strongly encourage the possibility of a Syria talk to preserve the ceasefire, to create the conditions for a political dialogue to be established in the near future. And the UN will of course fully participate, will fully support any effort to bring the parties together," he said.
U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura confirmed earlier on Thursday he had been invited to the talks.
A U.N. statement said de Mistura himself would lead the U.N. team in Astana because of the complexity and importance of the issues likely to be raised. The talks are expected to begin on Jan. 23.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek also attending Davos, was optimistic the talks would lead to a longer lasting settlement.
"There is real hope about Astana summit, because obviously Russia is a key player, Turkey is an important player, actor, and Iran is important and the United States. So all these countries are likely to meet in Astana and try and find a lasting settlement. For at least a period, some sort of solution that might lead to a more lasting settlement."
The fighting was still "tremendous" in many places, including the Wadi Barada valley near Damascus, and around the desert town of Deir al-Zor, where about 93,000 civilians have been cut off since Sunday after Islamic State fighters captured the drop zone for humanitarian supplies.
The town has food for a few weeks, and the hospital treating wounded came under fire and had to be moved, Egeland said.
The four besieged towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foua and Kefraya were now a "disaster" and people were now dying routinely because of the lack of medical attention, he said.
More than 1 million people in Aleppo were without water because a damaged water station was in IS hands and inaccessible. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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