Syrian opposition to meet UN envoy over humanitarian demands

Members of the main Syrian opposition group said Feb. 1 that they plan to give U.N. Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura a "roadmap" for implementation of their humanitarian demands on Syria that they say must happen before they formally join indirect peace talks with a government delegation in Geneva.

Farah Atassi, a member of the Saudi-backed opposition coalition known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said the top priority should be to stop the "unprecedented bombardment by the Syrian regime" of rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to the Associated Press.

The group was to meet with De Mistura at U.N. offices in Geneva later on Feb. 1, his spokeswoman, Khawla Mattar, said indirect talks between the two sides were unlikely before Feb. 2. 

De Mistura rescheduled a planned meeting with the government delegation in the morning of Feb. 1, because he wanted to hold an official meeting with the opposition before launching indirect talks.

"We have come to Geneva to seek relief for our people by insisting U.N. Security Council resolution 2254 is implemented, which means humanitarian relief, the lifting of sieges, and the end of attacks on civilians," spokesman Salem al-Mislet said in a statement.

The HNC, which only reluctantly showed up late Jan. 31 and held informal talks with de Mistura on the same day in a Geneva hotel, is hesitating about entering formal indirect talks envisioned under a November roadmap agreed by outside powers.

On the same day, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu voiced support for the HNC.

"We share the same position which consists of supporting our Syrian brothers directly or when they take part in...