The UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura leaving a press conference in Geneva yesterday (EPA)

The United Nations special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced yesterday that the new round of peace talks aimed at solving the Syrian crisis will begin on Friday in Geneva and will continue for six months. Invitations will be given out today (Tuesday) and the talks will be begin on the 29th of January.

It appears that the date will decide “who attends”, and the Syrian opposition will decide who will participate in the talks in a meeting in Riyadh today amidst an orientation to boycott the Geneva 3 talks unless swift efforts are made by the United Nations to make a partial breakthrough with regards to ending the blockade and releasing detainees. In addition to this, the Saudi council of ministers stressed the importance of implementing the decisions of the Geneva 1 conference and what was agreed on at the Vienna and New York meetings.

De Mistura said at a press conference held in Geneva yesterday afternoon that the talks will focus on a ceasefire, stopping ISIS, the distribution of human aid and stressed that the parties involved “must come to the talks without preconditions”. He added that “we will conduct indirect talks until we get to direct talks and our fundamental principle is that there are no preconditions”.

De Mistura also noted that the talks “were delayed due to differing views on the invitations which is a continuing problem and talks continue to take place between the different capitals in the region and between Washington and Moscow”. He added that “finishing touches” are still being put on “the list of participants, especially in relation to clarifying opposition groups and terrorist groups”.

The UN special envoy also said that the talks will begin on Friday with “whoever attends” them in Geneva, indicating that there is a likelihood that some participants will face logistical obstacles related to entry visas or will not be able to attend. He explained that there would not be an official opening of the talks and there would be complete flexibility regarding the meetings held by de Mistura with the parties involved. He said “I will not go into the details of the meetings and how we will organise them, I am flexible about who I meet and when I meet them”.