Aleppo ‘hell’ prevents Syria peace talks, say diplomats

The UN’s hopes for an August restart for diplomatic talks to end the brutal Syrian civil war have been set aside at least until a ceasefire is agreed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo, where as many as 2 million people remained trapped by intense fighting.

 

The UN had been hoping this month to restart political talks on a transition in Syria away from the regime of Bashar al-Assad, but following a briefing on Tuesday of the UN security council dominated by the crisis in Aleppo, western diplomats said the talks were buried until at the very least a stable ceasefire is agreed in Syria’s second city.

 

Alexis Lamek, deputy French representative to the UN, said: “I don’t see how we can have meaningful talks if there is not a minimum conducive environment.”

 

Read More: Aleppo ‘hell’ prevents Syria peace talks, say diplomats | World news | The Guardian