聯合國特使：恢復和談對敘利亞來說是關鍵時刻

U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said despite some concerns about recent violence, he believes "a moment of truth has arrived" as he prepared to launch a new round of peace talks aimed at ending nearly seven years of fighting.

The U.N.-led talks in Geneva due to begin Tuesday are the eighth round since 2012. Many of the prior attempts quickly fell apart amid major disagreements between the Syrian government and rebel delegations, including about whether President Bashar al-Assad should remain in office.

The two sides appear to be in the same position after opposition delegation chief Nasr Hariri told reporters Monday that their goal is for Assad to not be in power when a political transition begins.

The government delegation did not arrive in Geneva on Monday, but de Mistura planned to go ahead Tuesday with meetings with opposition figures. Prior rounds of peace talks have proceeded under similar circumstances with one party arriving a day or two late.

De Mistura said he believes it is possible for the two sides to narrow their differences as they negotiate under a framework approved by the U.N. Security Council that calls for a new constitution and elections. But he reiterated that his mediation team will not accept either side entering the talks with preconditions.聯合國敘利亞問題特使德米斯圖拉說，儘管對敘利亞的暴力仍然有一些擔心，但是現在到了一個關鍵時刻。他準備啓動新一輪和平會談，爭取結束持續了將近7年的衝突。

聯合國主導的會談星期二開始，這是2012年以來的第八輪會談。由於敘利亞政府和反政府力量代表存在重大分歧，以前的努力大都失敗。分歧包括阿薩德是否應該繼續擔任總統。

反政府力量代表團團長哈里里星期一對記者說，他們的目標是在政治過渡開始之時，阿薩德就不應是總統。雙方看來仍然堅持各自的立場。

敘利亞政府代表團星期一沒有到日內瓦，但是德米斯圖拉仍然計劃星期二與反政府力量代表會談。以前的和談也發生過類似情況，某一方的代表晚一兩天到達。

德米斯圖拉說，他認爲雙方在聯合國安理會批准的框架下進行的談判有可能縮小分歧。聯合國提出敘利亞要有一部新憲法，並舉行選舉。但是德米斯圖拉強調說，他的調停團隊不能接受任何一方帶着先決條件參加談判。