UN envoy calls for thematic talks on Syria crisis

UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura has called for "thematic" discussions among Syrians in an effort to revive stalled peace talks to end the conflict in the war-ravaged country, Press TV reported on Thursday.

The UN official invited Syrians to take part in what he called “parallel, or simultaneous, thematic discussions through intra-Syrian working groups,” in his comments to the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Pointing to the lack of “consensus on the way forward,” the Swedish-Italian diplomat highlighted UN’s obligation “to keep the issue alive.” However, he did not specify the time and place of the proposed talks that would concentrate on protecting civilians, political and constitutional issues as well as military and security matters among others.

"Such an international initiative will require the support of a contact group and we will get to that at the right time,” the envoy said.