Peace Talks Could Take Place in November, Says Syrian Official

Geneva-2

Damascus — Syria peace talks could take place next month, a senior Syrian official said Thursday, as chemical weapons experts announced the completion of nearly half their inspections of the country's arsenal.

Speaking in Moscow, Syrian deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil said proposed talks in Geneva could take place "November 23-24".

"We are closer than ever to holding the Geneva-2," Jamil told reporters after talks at the Russian foreign ministry, adding that the timeframe for the conference was "hypothetical."

Russia and Western nations, led by the United States, have been pushing for talks between the Syrian regime and rebels on a negotiated solution to the conflict, which has killed more than 115,000 people.