UN Special Envoy For Syria Calls Talks With Iranian Foreign Minister 'Substantive'

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Wednesday called his recent talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the development of the political process in Syria "substantive."

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th February, 2019) UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Wednesday called his recent talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the development of the political process in Syria "substantive."

Pedersen, who was appointed UN special envoy for Syria in early January, met with Zarif on Tuesday. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, such issues as Syria's new constitution, the repatriation of refugees, political reforms and the withdrawal of US troops from the country were on the meeting's agenda.

"Substantive talks on Syria yesterday in Tehran with FM Zarif and senior adviser Javert-Ansari on all aspects of SCR 2254 [UN Security Council Resolution pertaining to the ceasefire and political settlement in Syria] and moving Geneva political process forward.

Stressed the importance of Iran's support," Pedersen said on his Twitter page.

Syria has been scourged by civil war since 2011, when anti-government protests became violent and turned into a multifactional conflict between the government and various armed groups, including extremist ones. In September, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem reported to the UN General Assembly that the seven-year "war on terror" was almost over and invited the millions of refugees who had fled the war to return home.

Following this announcement, the international community focused discussions on finding solutions to rebuild Syria's infrastructure and secure a peaceful transition of the government within the framework of guidelines outlined by the Geneva peace talks on Syria.