ABOVE: SNC spokesman Louay Safi said on Wednesday that he hoped Russia would play a “positive role” in the talks, and would not “go into side negotiations that are not in the interests of the Syrian people.”
GENEVA – The Syrian opposition is urging Russia to take a more forceful stand with the Syrian government to help kickstart faltering peace talks in Geneva.
Anas al-Abdeh, a member of the opposition’s negotiating team in Geneva said Wednesday they expect Russia – a key ally of Syria’s President Bashar Assad – to put pressure on the government delegation to show flexibility at the talks.
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The two sides have been unable to agree on a common agenda for the second round of talks that started Monday. The U.N. said that a meeting between senior U.S. and Russian officials – who are backing the process – with U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will be held Thursday, a day before it was originally planned.
WATCH: Senior Assad advisor denies Geneva II talks are deadlocked
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