CCTV9英语新闻：Second round of peace talks planned on April 11th（在线收听）

The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has commended the peace process in Syria at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. The envoy praised Russia for its efforts in helping Syrian forces to recapture the historic city of Palmyra from ISIL and bringing about a political solution to the conflict. Lavrov in turn said it was important to establish direct dialogue between Syria's warring sides.

"One (of the achievements) is the cessation of hostilities (in Syria) which has been working thanks to a very effective system. And I must say, I also want to make a point that (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it too, we are extremely pleased on how the indications came from the liberation of Palmyra, which has been a symbol of... for the whole international community of what needs to be the beginning of freeing areas which are of international value, which we had been waiting for," Mistura said.

"Eventually all the resolutions of the crisis should be searched only on the basis of a fundamental principle, which lies in the decisions of the Vienna group and in the decision of the UN Security Council, that it is only the Syrian people who can decide the future of their country," Lavrov said.

A UN spokesman said Staffan de Mistura is continuing his consultations and intends to resume the second round of Syria talks as planned on April 11th. The talks would start with meetings between the Special Envoy and the main Syrian opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee. The Syrian government delegation is expected to arrive on the 14th. The spokesman said that there was a firm intention from all to pursue the peace process. However, the Syrian opposition said it was not optimistic about the upcoming peace talks in Geneva, because there was no international will for a political transition. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he thinks the Geneva talks can produce a new Syrian government that includes opposition, independents and loyalists. But he has explicitly rejected the idea of a transitional authority.