U.N. Envoy Urges Syrian Rivals Meeting in Geneva to Take 'Historical' Responsibility

The U.N.'s Syria envoy called on the country's rival sides to accept the "historical" responsibility of seeking to end the six-year conflict, while accepting "miracles" were unlikely at peace talks starting Thursday in Geneva.

Staffan de Mistura said regime and opposition negotiators, gathered for a fourth round of U.N.-sponsored talks, had a duty to lead Syria out of its bloody "nightmare."

"This is … our solemn responsibility …  a historical responsibility not to condemn the future generations of Syrian children to long years of bitter and bloody conflict," he said.

"The Syrian people desperately want an end to this conflict and you all know it .. they are awaiting for a relief from ... suffering and dream of a new road out of this nightmare," he added.

Speaking at a welcoming ceremony, he said the peace talks would start straightaway Thursday evening, after a day of bilateral meetings to hammer out the format and agenda of the negotiations.

Persistent violence and deadlock over Syria's political future are clouding the start of "Geneva 4," the fourth round of U.N.-sponsored talks on the conflict which has killed more than 310,000 people since 2011.

- 'Not expecting miracles' -

On the eve of the talks, Russia called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop bombing during the discussions.

But de Mistura, who had already warned he is not expecting a breakthrough at he talks, warned again Thursday of the challenge facing them.

"I'm not expecting miracles. We face an uphill task. It will not be easy," he said, adding all sides know "what will happen if we fail again: more death, more suffering."

The ground -- both in territory and diplomatically -- has shifted since the last U.N.-sponsored talks broke up in April 2016, and the rebels are in a significantly weaker position.

The army has recaptured the rebel bastion of eastern Aleppo and the United States, once staunchly opposed to Assad, has said it is reassessing every aspect of its Syria policy under President Donald Trump.

The latest truce was brokered in late December by opposition supporter Turkey and regime-backer Russia ahead of separate negotiations in Kazakhstan that also involved Iran.

The deal has reduced violence but fighting flared again this week including a government bombing campaign on rebel territory around Damascus.

A bitter dispute over Assad's fate also continues to divide the camps. 

The HNC has insisted he must leave office as part of any deal, while Damascus has said the president's future is not open for negotiation.