Switzerland-Syria Talks/China
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 23, 2017
1. Various of representatives of Syrian government, oppositions sitting face-to-face during ceremony
2. Representatives from China, Egypt, Canada, Qatar, Oman at meeting
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 24, 2017
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"Now, there are hundreds of opposition parties in Syria. Such a division is not good for negotiations and hard to achieve consensuses. So we stress that the opposition parties need to sort themselves out including their numbers and stances."
4. Various of meeting in progress between UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and Syria's UN Permanent Representative Bashar Jaafari
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"I think it's progress itself when these opposition parties can sit down with the Syrian government for the meeting and negotiate with each other about issues they're concerned about. And we should applaud for it and encourage it."
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 22, 2017
6. Various of meeting in progress between De Mistura and Xie Xiaoyan
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 24, 2017
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"Now that they are willing to settle differences through negotiations and find a final solution, they need to talk face to face. It's hard to solve problems when you sit in one room and I sit in another one. So I hope in the coming days, they can have direct talks and seriously talk about those issues they're concerned about."
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 23, 2017
8. Cameramen
9. Syrian opposition representatives arriving
A senior Chinese diplomat on Friday expressed optimism about the peace negotiations on Syria in Geneva, Switzerland, hoping a face-to-face talks between the sides could end the lasting conflict.
The UN-sponsored Syrian peace negotiations resumed in Geneva on Thursday, ten months after falling apart over escalating violence in the war-torn country.
Altogether the opposition delegation to the talks consists of 22 members, including those from both political and armed opposition parties in Syria.
However, divergences still remain among the opposition parties. On Thursday afternoon, a welcoming ceremony that was schedule at 18:00 was delayed for one hour as the parties fail to agree on which party can really stand for the opposition delegation in the peace talks.
"Now, there are hundreds of opposition parties in Syria. Such a division is not good for negotiations and hard to achieve consensuses. So we stress that the opposition parties need to sort themselves out including their numbers and stances," said Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria.
Although most hold the negotiations to be a long and difficult process and an early public breakthrough should not be expected, Xie said he is optimistic and regards the talks a step forward since the government and the oppositions show their willingness to sit in one room.
"I think it's progress itself when these opposition parties can sit down with the Syrian government for the meeting and negotiate with each other about issues they're concerned about. And we should applaud for it and encourage it," said Xie.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura on Friday held separate meetings with the government led by Syrain UN Permanent Representative Bashar Jaafari and the opposition delegation to set up the format of talks, as the UN mediated negotiations continued.
For the format of indirect talks, the Chinese envoy stressed more importance on the face-to-face talks.
"Now that they are willing to settle differences through negotiations and find a final solution, they need to talk face to face. It's hard to solve problems when you sit in one room and I sit in another one. So I hope in the coming days, they can have direct talks and seriously talk about those issues they're concerned about," Xie said.
Xie also said he hopes both sides can lay down arms and turn swords into plowshares as there is a good chance to maintain the ceasefire agreement which remains in place now.
The last time Syria's warring parties convened in Geneva was in April last year. Since the Syria conflict began in March 2011, an estimated 400,000 people have lost their lives, with millions more forced to flee their homes.
Switzerland-Syria Talks/China
Dateline : Feb 22/23/24, 2017
Location : Geneva,Switzerland
Duration : 2'02
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 23, 2017
1. Various of representatives of Syrian government, oppositions sitting face-to-face during ceremony
2. Representatives from China, Egypt, Canada, Qatar, Oman at meeting
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 24, 2017
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"Now, there are hundreds of opposition parties in Syria. Such a division is not good for negotiations and hard to achieve consensuses. So we stress that the opposition parties need to sort themselves out including their numbers and stances."
4. Various of meeting in progress between UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and Syria's UN Permanent Representative Bashar Jaafari
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"I think it's progress itself when these opposition parties can sit down with the Syrian government for the meeting and negotiate with each other about issues they're concerned about. And we should applaud for it and encourage it."
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 22, 2017
6. Various of meeting in progress between De Mistura and Xie Xiaoyan
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 24, 2017
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria:
"Now that they are willing to settle differences through negotiations and find a final solution, they need to talk face to face. It's hard to solve problems when you sit in one room and I sit in another one. So I hope in the coming days, they can have direct talks and seriously talk about those issues they're concerned about."
Geneva, Switzerland - Feb 23, 2017
8. Cameramen
9. Syrian opposition representatives arriving
A senior Chinese diplomat on Friday expressed optimism about the peace negotiations on Syria in Geneva, Switzerland, hoping a face-to-face talks between the sides could end the lasting conflict.
The UN-sponsored Syrian peace negotiations resumed in Geneva on Thursday, ten months after falling apart over escalating violence in the war-torn country.
Altogether the opposition delegation to the talks consists of 22 members, including those from both political and armed opposition parties in Syria.
However, divergences still remain among the opposition parties. On Thursday afternoon, a welcoming ceremony that was schedule at 18:00 was delayed for one hour as the parties fail to agree on which party can really stand for the opposition delegation in the peace talks.
"Now, there are hundreds of opposition parties in Syria. Such a division is not good for negotiations and hard to achieve consensuses. So we stress that the opposition parties need to sort themselves out including their numbers and stances," said Xie Xiaoyan, China's Special Envoy for Syria.
Although most hold the negotiations to be a long and difficult process and an early public breakthrough should not be expected, Xie said he is optimistic and regards the talks a step forward since the government and the oppositions show their willingness to sit in one room.
"I think it's progress itself when these opposition parties can sit down with the Syrian government for the meeting and negotiate with each other about issues they're concerned about. And we should applaud for it and encourage it," said Xie.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura on Friday held separate meetings with the government led by Syrain UN Permanent Representative Bashar Jaafari and the opposition delegation to set up the format of talks, as the UN mediated negotiations continued.
For the format of indirect talks, the Chinese envoy stressed more importance on the face-to-face talks.
"Now that they are willing to settle differences through negotiations and find a final solution, they need to talk face to face. It's hard to solve problems when you sit in one room and I sit in another one. So I hope in the coming days, they can have direct talks and seriously talk about those issues they're concerned about," Xie said.
Xie also said he hopes both sides can lay down arms and turn swords into plowshares as there is a good chance to maintain the ceasefire agreement which remains in place now.
The last time Syria's warring parties convened in Geneva was in April last year. Since the Syria conflict began in March 2011, an estimated 400,000 people have lost their lives, with millions more forced to flee their homes.
ID : 8043951
Published : 2017-02-25 12:05
Last Modified : 2017-05-10 07:01:00
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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