UN chief will push ahead with Syrian peace talks

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is determined to push ahead with peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition despite the lack of progress during two rounds of negotiations that ended Saturday.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky stressed that “this is the start of an enormously complicated process after three years of conflict.”

Nesirky told reporters on Tuesday “it should not really surprise anyone ... that the parties have found it difficult to find a common voice.”

He said Ban and UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi are determined to push ahead, and are in contact with the US and Russia on “how best to push forward.”

Nesirky said Ban hopes the parties will “think long and hard” and come back to Geneva as soon as possible to continue the peace process.