United Nations – Syria – Resumption of inter-Syrian peace talks in Vienna (25 January 2018)

In connection with the resumption of the inter-Syrian peace negotiations today in Vienna, France reaffirms its full support for the mediation efforts of Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.

While the opposition is unified and is taking a constructive approach, the Syrian regime must put an end to its deliberate strategy of obstruction and engage, in a sincere manner, in the negotiations. France calls on the supporters of the Damascus regime to exert the necessary pressure to that end. It also reaffirms the pressing need to ensure immediate, free and unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance for all populations affected by the conflict, notably in Eastern Ghouta.

The negotiations under UN auspices remain the only legitimate framework for resolving the Syrian crisis, on the basis of UNSCR 2254 and the Geneva Communiqué.

**_Q_** _: The minister stated yesterday that the peace talks on Syria in Vienna represented a last hope for finding a political solution to the conflict. Given the current context, what would be a realistic and concrete goal for creating new momentum in less than two days?_