UN envoy, Syrian leader hold "constructive discussions": statement

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Monday held "constructive discussions" with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian government officials in Damascus, the Envoy's office said.

According to a statement by the office, de Mistura took note of the expressed intent of the Syrian authorities to work with the United Nations to identify common ground for implementing his proposal to "freeze" fighting, starting with the city of Aleppo, on the basis of the concept outlined in the Security Council.

The freeze proposals intend first and foremost to lead to a de- escalation of violence, starting from specific areas with a national impact, and allow for return to some normalcy for the civilians caught in the city of Aleppo has taken on renewed significance.

Ongoing diplomatic efforts would then also build on such an incremental freezing of military activities to arrive to a national all-inclusive political process.

The Special Envoy and his team intend to proceed now expeditiously on working out the modalities of a freeze in Aleppo city, through further discussions with the Syrian authorities and intensified consultations with all parties concerned. Enditem