staffan de mistura said the court chairman of the u.n. nesh tif are the russians and americans. >> there are no willingness to the talks and will take it to the united states and u.n. security council and has emphasis on the external players there. >> that is what he did last time, last time he basically called off negotiations early and went back to russians and americans and happened before when he was trying to initiate something except the last time around when the ceasefire was called in order to pave the way for this negotiations back on the 27 of february it was announced then it didn't happen even for you know as a result of a meeting between l sergei fedorov and they talked about the factors that are going in, into the syrian situation are not only something that cannot be resolved between sergei fedorov but it takes the two world super powers to deal with all of this to agree with the question of syria so both the diplomatic, the strategic and let me emphasize this please for a second and the charitable humanistic cause of syria

staffan de mistura will shortly hold talks of the representatives of the government. at least 15 people have been killed in a bomb explosion in pakistan. the bus was taking government workers to work. american republican republican donald trump has won in the latest round of primaries. it was goodnight for hillary clinton too >>> returning to syria where the front lines have become the world's most danger out areas forcing millions to leave their homes with some in aleppo refusing to go. they've taken up voluntary relief work to help the casualties of war. >> reporter: this there may be a cessation of hostilities in syria, but the violence is far from over. this man and his team are heading to the district in aleppo to put out a fire. their team is three years old now and they've dug out and rescued hundreds of people. opposition areas in aleppo have been hit the hardest by government and i.s.i.l. many leave here >> translation: we are helping people. if we all left who would remain? we help our people despite the shelling and fires and bombardments. >> reporter: snip

staffan de mistura hopes that by the time this third round of talks ends, all sides will have agreed on a roadmap. following a meeting with the syrian demonstration, staffan de mistura reiterated there is only one way for it. >> i don't know where anyone else has a plan b. here. i'm only aware of a plan a., which is giving the maximum chance, but the maximum pressure by the international community in order to ensure that this type of intra syrian talks and the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian task force is given the maximum opportunity. the alternative to that, to my knowledge would be regrettably returning to where we were, which was basically an ongoing conflict, which is going to be celebrated sadly and tragically into this time. >> let's get to james bays now in geneva. after he spoke, syria's chief negotiator also had a couple of things to say. tell us about that. >> yes, the syrian ambassador to the united nations is serving as the chief negotiator at these talks as he has done previous talks. what he said supposed to be different this time around according to staf

staffan de mistura and now it's the second meeting with the government. in many ways this is it because the first meetings were each side presenting their case. now because this is the second round of meetings started, mr. staffan de mistura i'm sure will present the opposition's plans or parts of them to the government's sides and we are starting to get an exchange of ideas. we know that both sides have presented papers to mr. staffan de mistura and he is looking through those ideas which eventually he may come up with his own u.n. paper of some of the ideas that actually both sides agree on. and i'm sure one of the subjects they will be talking about is the way syria is going to be governed, this is a country that always has been governed century from damascus and now you have this idea maybe there could be a more federal system with some sort of autonomy in parts of the country and that is what the pyd wants and we have to see what everyone else says but we know turkey is deeply opposed. >> james base diplomatic editor in geneva talk and what we are he

the vast number of prisoners being held by the government and staffan de mistura says he needs to see them released. also the u.n. making clear it is six areas they've not been allowed goat to. all of those areas are besieged by the government side. they're under pressure on that. then they're under pressure on what mr staffan de mistura has called the mother of all issues in these talks and that's the issue of political transition. mr staffan de mistura has now had two meetings with the government side and two with the opposition. he says the opposition are being constructive. they've come up with proposals for political transition. the government, they've only talked about procedure for these talks, not the actual substance. mr staffan de mistura when show spoke to reporters last night laid down the gauntlet to the government. >> we have had two meetings and they were rather procedural, rather procedural. there was one paper that you are familiar with, eight points of principle, but when we need to do is starting talking about political transition and what the government as such see

special envoy says the distance is large and staffan de mistura will spend the day meeting with both sides separately and agreements on one objective which is keeping syria together, let's speak to james base who is following the talks of course in geneva and james talks have not started yet. >> they have not started, no, nick and that is interesting because staffan de mistura said he would be meeting the government side in the morning, those were his comments. they did not announce a meeting but told cameras that will film the start of the meeting were called to be there and have been told to go away and come back just afternoon geneva time so pretty clear to me there has been a postponement of what was going to be a morning meeting now going to be an afternoon meeting with the government tied. one reason for that possibly here very clear feeling the government side is under pressure and public pressure from the united nations, under pressure on the issue of detainees because the vast majority of prisoners are being held by the government side and staffan de mistura says there has b

staffan de mistura. one is the u.n. security council resolution set up at the end of last year, past the end of last year in new york. that talks about political transition and has a time line, 18 months for free and fair elections and the other principle is the geneva communique in 2012. let me be precise about what that says. it talks about a transitional governing body with full executive power. full executive power suggest to say me that that would take over from the president. it also says in that geneva communique of 2012 it will be by mutual consent. i think that's a key phrase for the opposition and why they keep going back to that geneva communique, because it's very clear, there is no way they will give consent to bashar al assad being part of any transitional process. >> thank you for talking us through day one, james bays live in geneva. >> 8.4 million syrian children have been affected by the conflict which began five years ago. this is according to a new unicef report, an estimate 3.7 million children have

envoy staffan de mistura gave a speech >> reporter: the meeting between the u.n. special envoy and the head of the special delegation. staffan de mistura says he wants to get down to the key issue of political transition. when he spoke to reporters, ambassador made a statement saying he had focused on overall principles that should govern the process. >> thank you so much >> reporter: he did not take any questions. the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee were holding an event to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the start of the war. they have proposed a new transitional government without president bashar al-assad, but they feel the government delegation led by the ambassador is not empowered to discuss these issues. they believe he is just here to delay and disrupt things. >> he doesn't have a decision there. we need a higher rank team that negotiate with us, a team that can make a decision right here in geneva because we can make a decision on behalf of all people. >> reporter: special envoy staffan de mistura says the fact that the talks

staffan de mistura said elections will be held in 18 months. it was said he had no right to set a date for syria's presidential poll. it was added that breaking up the country was not an option. >> translation: we are adamant on holding the territorial integrity and sovereign ultimately of syria as one state. at least this is what has been intimated by the documents released, including those released in an attempt to resolve the situation in syria >>> live now to geneva and our diplomatic editor james bays. some issues looking positive, some issues looking potentially negative. i do not yes. it is getting to the crunch issue of the political solution if there is one in syria, and that's the future role of presidential bashar al-assad. certainly the u.n. have always said that all sides need to come here without preconditions. it seems the syrian government and their deputy prime minister and foreign minister is setting a precondition. the opposition is already saying that they are not happy about that, but both sides are coming here and the key

>> staffan de mistura is giving himself a lot of latitude and time. we're talking about 18 months on the overall. i think in this context of what has been seen since the first geneva and the third geneva, anything is sacred. at the end of the day convening with each delegate separately will discuss whatever he seems necessary and in so many ways for the time being he is backed by moscow and washington. that's why for our viewers to know that staffan de mistura might walk the talk, but it happens elsewhere. there are two many players in this game and staffan de mistura is the person who is trying to hold a couple of threads to get the most interested and concerned, which is the regime of bashar al-assad and the syrian opposition on the same room, same building and eventually on the same table. whether that will happen remains to be seen >>> you say there are too many players in this game. the russians and the americans, of course, are the two main players. the russians have a lot at stake. do you think that the russians are genuinely interested in endi

staffan de mistura has just met with government officials to continue the talks and the u.s. secretary of state john kerry will later meet with the rush president vladimir putin in moscow. to james bays who is in geneva for this. lots of meetings happening today. tell us about how things are progressing there. >> reporter: i think the worry is that these talks are getting bogged down and thursday is supposed to be the last day of this round of talks. the opposition are talking about the key issue of political transition and presenting their plans for an interim government, but when the government have their meetings with staffan de mistura, and they're having one now, they're mainly talking about procedure of these talks and want to talk about the counter terrorism issue. it suggests that, perhaps, these talks need a jolt and the intervention from the u.s. secretary of state and the russian foreign minister and that was a point i put to the u.n. mediator, staffan de mistura. >> we always need some help from mr kerry and mr lavrov because they've been proving in the past, and

staffan de mistura but don't meet at this stage face-to-face. that first meeting for this round, remember we had a failed round of talks that really got nowhere a matter of weeks ago. we understand that the opposition delegation, the main opposition block behind negotiations committee will not be meeting a special envoy in geneva on monday, but their meeting will come a day later on tuesday. i think mr. staffan de mistura, although he says these are substantive talks, he says they're going to deal with the mother of all issues, which is political transition, he is taking it slowly. he knows on that key issue and the part of that issue that's been -- the main problem, i think throughout the five years, the role of president assad and those around him, he knows there's a real difference. although worth telling you that the time line for this process seems to have shrunk since he last spoke to the media, when we were here a few weeks ago, he talked about intensive talks lasting six months, now they are talking about putting the plan now that he has

everyone says they're going to see staffan de mistura first. if there is a breakdown, what do they do next. they will be talking about other issues related to syria. they will be talking about those refugees who continue to arrive in large numbers in greece. they will be talking about the situation in yemen and i think also near the top of the agenda will be the situation in libya with that government supposed to take office in libya, the new unity government and the suggestion that's out there, and i think this is maybe why the italians are a player in this meeting in paris. the suggestion that there could be some sort of international force sent to libya led by the ee italians >>> thanks very much. the refugees are a key issue as voting gets underway in three key states in germany. it is said to be a litmus test for the chancellor's refugee policy. on saturday around 2,000 right wing protesters marched through central berlin demonstrating their opposition to the policy. there has been a sharp rise in the number of attacks on properties that h

staffan de mistura is meeting a day after opposition talks. on the grouped russia is withdrawing most of its forces from syria. james bays reports. >> reporter: the man in charge of mediating between the sides in the syrian collect, u.n. envoy staffan de mistura, said he didn't believe the timing of the russian announcement as his talks were restarting was a coincidence. >> we consider this a significant, i repeat, a significant development and now we hope and we shall be expecting and hoping that this will be happening, that we will be seeing this decision bringing some positive influence on the actual progress of the talks. mr staffan de mistura had a meeting with the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee on this, the 5th anniversary at the start of the war. they believe the russian pull out is positive news. >> this will help us really to reach a political agreement and really achieve something for our own people there. i hope it will be an end to all these fights in syria >> reporter: there has been some suggestions that t

staffan de mistura has said he wants to get down to the key issue of political transition. when he spoke to reporters, ambassador made a statement saying he had focused on overall principles that should govern the process. >> thank you so much >> reporter: he did not take any questions. the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee, were holding an event to come memorandum or rate-- on the anniversary of the five-year war. the issues are not empowered and people believe they are here to delay. >> he doesn't have a decision there. we need a higher rank team that negotiates with us, a team that can make a decision right here in jooeven abecause we can make a decision on behalf of all people. >> reporter: special envoy, staffan de mistura, says the fact that talks were not collapseed and there were no walk outs was progress in itself. >> our principles are not just principles. they are the basis for then getting into deeply into what we consider a common ground for what is the issue, which is the mandate for the political decision. no question on that. >> reporter

special envoy, staffan de mistura briefing the press after two weeks of talks. talks that got bogged down because the syrian government delegation wanted to discuss overall principles rather than the specifics of a new transitional government. to solve the problem, mr staffan de mistura has published his own document of principles and he says when the talks start again from april 9, the government side must move on. >> the next round of talks will be not focusing on principles again. we have had enough of that there are very many valid points there, but to start focusing on the political process. to us political process based on the security council adopted by everyone is good. >> reporter: the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee, have produced detailed proposals for the future of syria which they've submitted to mr staffan de mistura with a cessation of hostilities still broadly holding, they say this chance to bring peace to the country must not be lost >> this is a unique moment, a precious moment, and we hope russia will seize this moment

envoy staffan de mistura, staffan de mistura, said he didn't believe the timing of the russian announcement as his talks were restarting was a coincidence. >> we have considered this a significant, i repeat a significant, development, and now we hope and shall be expecting and hoping that this will be happening, that we will be seeing this decision bringing some positive influence on the actual progress of the talks. >> reporter: mr staffan de mistura had a meeting with the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee on this, the fifth anniversary of the start of the war. they believe the russian pull-out is positive news. >> this will help us to reach a political agreement and achieve something for our own people there, and i hope it will be an end to all these fights in syria. >> reporter: there have been some suggestions that maybe there's a deal between the u.s. and russia. if part of that deal was for president bashar al-assad to stay on for a time, would you be prepared to compromise on that? >> really, we don't know if there is any such a deal, but we know that there is bi

but staffan de mistura said no plan b for syria. says he plans to move quickly to issues of substance. >> the mother of all issues, political transition. >> ambassador jaafrrey says the role of bashar al-assad is nonnegotiable. >>> the framework is very important to achieve substantive success. >> reporter: the main opposition block will pete mr. de mistura on tuesday. a clear change meaning the removal of president assad but their spokesman admits the other side is never likely to accept that. >> we know the mentality we're dealing with because it is not only a suffer of five years, it is a suffer of 42 years in the role of assad the father and then the son. >> getting these talks restarted was hard enough. but now, they must deal with the most difficult core issues. james bays, al jazeera at the united nations in geneva. >>> tuesday marks five years since the syrian conflict began with peaceful protests against the government. opponents of the assad regime said they had no choice but to take up arms against fierce crack down. al j

staffan de mistura has said the presidential elections will be held within 18 months. he said he has no right to set a date for syria's presidential vote. he said a transitional period should mean moving from the chifting government and constitution to another one-- existing government >> >> we are adamant to hold it as one state. at least this is what has been reiterated by the international documents released, including those released in an attempt to resolve the situation in syria >>> live to geneva and james bays. the preconditions already being laid down. >> reporter: and the united nations all along said there should be no preconditions. the opposition already saying they're angry about those comments saying that president bashar al-assad should not be part of any negotiation, his future role. that is, in essence, the central problem of these negotiations. that is what meant that the negotiations that took place two years ago, the reason they broke down, an argument over the agenda, the syrian government, saying they wanted to discuss fighting what they called te

de mistura. he will be giving a press briefing which we will be carrying live here on al jazeera. we also know for certain what is happening at the end of the day in geneva time because he will also hear the u.n.'s european headquarters briefing the u.n. security council by video link from new york telling him the progress on his talks. what is not clear is what will happen in between those two events. will he see both of the sides today, remember these are proximity talks, they don't come into the same room. he sees one side and then the other side. he has seen both sides in the hotel, what he described as courtesy calls to them. i'm being told by one opposition source that is not confirmed by the u.n. that, perhaps, the full talks with each of the two sides will take place on tuesday rather than today, monday. that is not clear at this stage. i think we're going to get more information on that from the special envoy, staffan de mistura, when he speaks to the press in an hour's time >>> even bef

staffan de mistura. they have not yet decided to come to geneva but if they do want to focus on the future governance of syria moving beyond the one current ruler. >> james, we reported earlier on the desperate humanitarian conditions for many people still in syria. what discussion has there been on that. >> there has been discussion on a task force meeting in the last hours saying they are making progress. out of the 18 besieged areas, they've reached 10. they have plans in two other areas, yarmouk, the refugee camp in damascus, they believe they'll start to get aid into that palestinian refugee camp. they are working on their plans for another attempt to an airlift, leaving six areas. i then pressed to the advisor on humanitarian issues to mr. staffan de mistura about those remaining six areas and he confirmed that those six areas are all areas besieged by the syrian government. >> all right, james bays reporting to us lives from geneva. >>> now there have been several more attacks across israel and th

staffan de mistura said only one way forward. our deployment editor, has been following things in geneva, james bays is joining us. russia has announced they are starting to withdraw their military force from syria. do we have a clear idea exactly what they mean? >> reporter: well, i think it is this the statement. i think the question is: what it actually means in terms of their support for the assad regime. in the hotel behind me, the syrian government delegation. led by the syrian ambassador for new york. i think this is rather uncomfortable to him potentially because not only has the russian military involvement been a game change are it also gives them diplomatic mat might aat these s and the ambassador should be pretty pleased at the announcement coming from moscow, the announcement by president putin himself. this is what he said. >> translator: i believe that the goal set out to the ministry of defense and the armed forces has overall been fulfilled and that's why i ordered the minister of defense as of tomorrow to start

staffan de mistura has been meeting with the main syrian opposition in geneva. he is outlining the progress that has been made. >> during the last three days surprisingly calm, according to the report of everyone, including those who have access to additional information. there have been a few incidents and at least three people killed, sadly, and one life is lost is too many. when you are comparing to what there used to be in particular in the last three days these have been noticeable in the task force >>> staffan de mistura says both sides in the syrian war are holding detainees, but the numbers are way higher on the government side. activists say tens of thousands are being held. >> reporter: near the top of the agenda for the main opposition block at the geneva talks, the release of detainees. they organized a conference detailing the inhuman conditions facing prisoners of the bashar al-assad regime. reporters were told-- this woman told her her brother was jailed and then executed >> he was in prison for two years and two months. they killed him there >> r

envoy staffan de mistura to yemen has announced another ceasefire. he says it will start on april 10, a week before a new round of talks to end the war. >> reporter: a year since saudi arabia began its bombardment of yemen and 18 months since houthis took the capital finally some hope. >> i am pleased to announce today that parties to the conflict have agreed to a nationwide cessation of hostilities beginning at midnight on 10 february. in strands of the upcoming-- advance of the upcoming that's talks which will take place on 18 april in kuwait. >> reporter: the u.n. ebb invoice said another two weeks were needed for what he called a deescalation committee to be established including the warring parties, as well as local units to monitor the ceasefire. some 6,000 are thought to have been killed in the last year, over hassle civilians. --- half civilians. many are on the brink of famine despite both sides taking and retaking territory from each other, it is difficult to see what they're actually achieving. in fact, human rights watch suggested the mai

mr staffan de mistura had a meeting with the high negotiations committee at the start of the war. they believe the russian pull out is positive news >> this will help us to reach a political reagreement and really achieve something for our own people there, and i hope it will be an end to all these fights in syria. >> reporter: there have been some suggestions that maybe there's a deal between u.s. and russia. if authority of pa deal was for bashar al-assad to stay on for a time, would you be prepared to compromise on that? >> we don't know if such a deal, but we know that there is big efforts from the states, from the european countries that really made putin take this decision >> reporter: a diplomatic answer, but one of those representing the armed groups in the hnc was more forthright >> translation: we are for a political transition, but without the presence of bashar al-assad and we will not accept him having a role. >> reporter: the start of the russian pull out has changed things. how much is not yet clear. the government delegation are likely to be uneasy. the opposition

for a meeting with special envoy, staffan de mistura. she made it clear she had met both sides in geneva and there was no change to e.u. policy. >> reporter: why did you decide to choose this moment to reward the bashar al-assad regime with such a high-profile meeting? >> our support to the opposition has not only been in place for the last five years, but it is going to be there also for the future and this is something we discussed. as i said, what i have done told is consistent, fully consistent, with what we decided today as the european union, to actively support the work of the united nation and, in particular, of staffan de mistura in bringing the negotiations forward. >> reporter: despite high representative's firm position that this is not a change in the e.u. policy, i can tell you i've spoken to diplomats from a number of different countries who say they are surprised that she held this meeting. one added there is only supposed to be one mediator in this process. earlier ambassador told reporters he would soon be returning to

what staffan de mistura calls the mother of all issues, political transition. that's why, i think, mr staffan de mistura earlier this week said to me "i always need the help of mr lavrov and mr kerry because they are the architects of this process, the guarantors of the process", and the only people that can push the syrian government, and it is the syrian government not engaging on this issue of political transition, are the russians. i'm sure that's at the very center of what they are talking about right now in has co. what pressure the russians are prepared to put on the syrian government. clearly there is already pressure. the start of that russian pull-out, i think, put pressure on the syrian government, but despite that they're not only not refusing to talk about bashar al-assad and the role of bashar al-assad, they're refusing to talk about the whole idea of transition. whenever it has come up in the meeting, the delegation has wanted to talk about other things, it has wanted to talk about the agenda, about broad principles. we then had had the brussels

de mistura the u.n. to syria and outlining progress he says has been made at this stage of talks and said they were designed at this point to keep momentum and has been kept and reminded everyone that sunday will be one month since the cessation of violence started and he was happy there had been so far no walkouts or break downs as he put it and all sides will go away and come back for more talks in april around the 9th, 10th, or 11th on a common paper which contains common ground between all the sides. correspondent is in moscow. and one of the things he mentioned during the news conference is the role of russia and timing of discussions that have been happening like john kerry and sergei fedorov that is going on as the talks conclude. >> reporter: yes, indeed. actually as he was talking john kerry and sergei fedorov and vladimir putin are meeting and we understand that is a meeting that will last about two hours. and i have to say that just as there was a photo op that was broad casted on russian chan

de mistura. with the cessation of hostilities broadly holding, they say this chance to bring piece to the country must not be lost >> this is a unique moment, a precious moment and we mope russia will seize this-- hope russian will seize this moment and use the leverage >> reporter: russian pressure may be the only way to force the syrian delegation to discuss political transition, but then they will get to the most difficult issue and the government's chief negotiator has said it's not up for discussion. >> president bashar al-assad has nothing to do with the syrian indirect talks. the references of our talks do not indicate anything, do not give any indication whatsoever with regard the issue of the president of the syrian arab republic. this is something that ask already excluded from the scene. >> reporter: it's clear these talks have so far made very little progress on the key issue of political transition, but these negotiations are part of a process that is making a difference on the groun

within the hour and we will be bringing you the details of those as we get them, staffan de mistura saying he already got the process underway meeting besides the proximity talks and meeting face to face and it's going to be a long process, over three rounds and al jazeera will be keeping across it every step of the way and do stay with us. the witness next. nations and designer babies. our digital future and how it will change the way we live. get ready because the future is coming. how many times have you heard that? now you hear a lot about a so-called fourth industrial revolution. that's already upon us, by the way. this revolution was undo the global industrial economy, which has underpinned the advances made by human society for more than 200 years. replacing the old model will be a global digital economy fueled by advances in information technology, data crunching, automation and robotics as well as advances in genetic and biological sciences. that's a lot, but to really understand the gravity of what i'm talking about, it is useful to go back in history and see how transform

no question about that. >> staffan de mistura was perhaps not as tough as he has been on the past days on the syrian delegation but he did have tough words i'm told behind closed doors for ambassador jaffray to sa get down to import issues. be james bays, al jazeera. >>> aid convoys are reaching other parts of syria. these are the latest pictures of aid arriving in kaffraya. >>> protests by the saudi led coalition in yemen. more than 100 people were killed on tuesday when a busy market was hit in the northwest of the country. the u.n.'s human rights chief has condemned the failure to prevent civilian casualties in yemen. >> these all four incidents continue to occur with acceptable regularity and despite public promises to investigate such incidents we have yet to see progress in any such investigations. it would appear to be the case of the distinction between legitimate military targets and civilian ones which are protected under international law is at best woefully inadequate and at worst we're possibly looking at the commission of international crimes by members of the coalition.

envoy staffan de mistura staffan de mistura. he recorded a message to mark international women days >> many many weem inside and outside syria. i've been able to see them during this terrible five years of conflict, how enormous it has been the sufferance and their dignity. >> reporter: the stalled syrian talks were supposed to restart here in geneva this week. however, that's now in some doubt. the head of the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee, has told news organizations, including al jazeera, in a telephone conference call, that right now they're not ready to return to geneva. they say there have been too many violations in the cessation of hostilities. they stay there are areas that are besieged and have not received humanitarian aid and they want to see the release of detainees. everyone knows there is a risk in further delay. yet more violations of the cessation of hostilities could derail this entire process >>> the u.s. military says it has killed more than 150 al-shabab fighters in a drone strike in

envoy staffan de mistura will meet with the syrian opposition on tuesday. our diplomatic editor james bays has more in geneva. >> reporter: back in the u.n. in geneva for the latest rounds of syrian talks. chief negotiator bashar al jaffray has been here before. >> this is a moment of truth. >> staffan de mistura said there is no plan b for syria. tends to move quickly to matter of substance. >> the mother of all issues, political transition. >> reporter: no sign they discussed that yet. ambassador jaffray has made it clear the role of president assad is nonnegotiable. he spoke mostly of nonprocedural issues. >> the final framework is very important to achieve substantive success. >> the main negotiation block will meet mr. de mistura on tuesday. the idea of political transition is simple, clear change, meaning the removal muc of president asd but the opposition is not likely to accept that. >> we know the mentality we're dealing with this. it is not a suffer of five years, it is a suffer of 40, the role of the father, then the son. >> reporter: getting the

envoy staffan de mistura to syria, staffan de mistura, is he being unrealistic then when he is talking of some lofty goals, new governance, constitution and elections while the government in opposition are not agreeing on much. how realistic are staffan de mistura's goals here? >> yes. i think he is being overly optimistic about the prospects for a diplomatic settlement. we often hear that the conflict in syria does not have a military solution. i agree with that, but i also disagree with it in the following sense, that the prospects for a lasting peace in syria will actually be dictated by battle field conditions on the ground that lead toward a situation where the bashar al-assad regime and its backers agree to negotiate seriously the departure of bashar al-assad. until that happens, then i think we're simply living in a delusional world thinking that we can arrive at a peace agreement based on existing battle field conditions and based on the fact that right now it is iran and russia that are in the driver's seat and that are determining not only the battle field conditions but what

envoy staffan de mistura staffan de mistura, but neither of the two two main parties are here in geneva. they're saying it will come in a few days. the opposition saying they have concerns and they will decide at the end of the week whether they're going to attend talks and some of their concerns are exactly about this humanitarian issue about getting to the besieged areas of syria and the point the opposition are making is that those besieged areas where they control the access and they've allowed convoys in, they say the government is not doing the same. now that's a point i put to the u.n. humanitarian coordinator, normally based in syria, but currently here in geneva. >> the imperative is to reach people trapped in these settings. i.s.i.l. is be seeming 200,000 people. other groups are besieging 20,000 people else where. >> reporter: those places have aid, haven't they. >> indeed. that is something that we have been able to do starting in october but really gaining momentum recently. >> reporter: you know why i'm asking these questions. it has become politicsised. the opposition are

staffan de mistura decided to excluded pyd from the talks now. staffan de mistura's deputy told reporters that the question of fundamental ralism was an issue to be decided by the representatives of the syrian people at the talks. >> translation: the u.n. position is very clear when it comes to this. every syrian that i spoke to stands with the unity and sovereignty with the nation. gentleman the head of the pyd actually turned up for the last round of talks in january before he found out he was not invited. other opposition members say his party should be excluded because they had been working with the bashar al-assad regime. >> translation: only when they openly announced that they're disengaging with the regime completely, only then will they have a place in the syrian revolution and they will then be welcomed with open arms as part of the delegation in geneva. >> reporter: are the russians abandoning you? >> reporter: my question was ignored as he arrived for his first session here. he explained the pulling out of forces was a joint decision

staffan de mistura says this is to allow more time for the truce to settle in. he acknowledged there had been violations and that negotiations would become more difficult if the deal on the ground didn't hold. staffan de mistura said talks are the best way to solve the war and refugee crisis. >> they don't want to leave. at the moment we have, god willing, a real cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access and implementation of these three parts, new governs, constitution and elections, i can bet many of them, not only will not leave but will return, especially if then we have a massive plan to rebuild syria, which is by far going to be cheaper than actually handing millions of refugees coming into europe or elsewhere >>> russia says it has delivered about 580 tons of food aid to government-held areas in syria since it began air strikes in support of the bashar al-assad regime in september. the partial u.s. and russia-brokered truce allowed for deliveries of aid. journalists were there visiting area for the first time since the five-year war began. russia's de

staffan de mistura has said he wants to get down to the key issue of political transition, but when he spoke to reporters, the ambassador made a statement saying he focused on overall principles that should govern the process. >> thank you so much >> reporter: he did not take any questions. the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee were holding an event to commemorate the fifth anniversary. they want a government without bashar al-assad but they feel the government delegation led by the ambassador is not empowered to discuss these issues. they believe he is here to delay and disrupt things >> he doesn't have a decision there. we need a higher rank, team to negotiate with us, a team that can make a decision right here in geneva because we can make a decision on behalf of all people. >> reporter: staffan de mistura said the fact that talks have no collapsed and there was no walk outs was progress in itself. the government's declaration of principles he said may lead somewhere >> principles are not just principles. they're the basis for them getting in too deeply into wha

with staffan de mistura. he has already put out a statement, the u.n. mediator, saying he is pleased by this development. he says it is constructive development for the talks, the news coming out of moscow. >> that is our james bayes on the ground for us in geneva. >>> when we come back, making the connection. the nfl acknowledging for the first time that there is a link between concussions and the brain disease cte. also -- ♪ >> reporter: the creator of hamilton making a trip to the rose garden. >>> for the first time an official of the national football league is admitting that there is a link between the game and traumatic brain injuries. that is a major change from what the league has been maintaining all along. >> reporter: on capitol hill a round table discussion on concussions was playing out as a routine affair until it became anything but when the attention turned specifically to the nfl. first, leading researcher dr. ann mckee testified that she believe there is a link between chronic brain diseas

staffan de mistura believes the tide is turk in the conflict. he spoke to our diplomatic editor james bails. >> you said finding peace in syria was almost mission impossible. also we stand now, what do you think are the chances of peace? >> higher. certainly higher than ever bro, for three reasons. the first one, we do have a momentum and we can see the syrian people are detecting it themselves. you can ask them and they will tell you that. on the cessation of hostilities, a reduction of violence, not enough, but moving in that direction. think about what it used to be three weeks ago. the second reason is we do have something that they tried very hard and could not have at the moment, some unity at the security down be krill and three we are having the so-called vienna group, 18 countries from saudi arabia to iran, from qatar to turkey, from u.s. to russia sitting in the same room and in theory and quite a lot in practice discussing how to get a political solution, not a military solution in syria. >> meanwhile, international aid agencies accus

de mistura. this is all interlinked. staffan de mistura says brussels under mines an imperative to finding a resolution but we're not any nearer are we? >> reporter: because if you're going to fight i.s.i.l. on the ground in syria, having a stable government in damascus, having an end to the war across the rest of syria is key. that's what they're trying to achieve in these talks. they're not making a lot of progress. the syrian government delegation led by aljaffari. the syrian government delicatessen gapings said on wednesday effectively goodbye to all the journalists and we will see you at the next round. they have been persuaded to come back for a last meaning and the main opposition block, the high negotiating committee, will be here in a few hours for their final meeting as this round of talks draws to a close, but no progress on the big issues. the big issue of political transition, it seems the syrian government in this round of talks have not been prepared to engage, the syrian governmen

when you talk to staffan de mistura in person he tells you that he thinks the cessation of hostility has decreased the number of violence by 90%. people remain near vowels and there is deep distrust to the governme government. activists told me there was a plan and that was to adhere to the cessation of hostilities against the rebels who are fighting them. when it comes to i.s.i.l., the government had its own plan in advancing, to take areas like palmyra and then, perhaps, go further to progress towards other areas to the east of palmyra and then to the north. people are nervous. however, they are happy that the level of violence has dropped dramatically >>> thanks very much. in northern iraq turkey has launched air strikes on i.s.i.l. positions. this follows the killing of a turkish soldier in an i.s.i.l. attack targeting kurdish forces. >> translation: after lee sazing with the chief of staff, , they were gone. turkey's military presence in that area will continue and we will continue to maintain our presence that will respond to possible threats against our borders, even further s

special envoy to syria, staffan de mistura, says this is to allow more time for the truce to settle in. he acknowledged there had been violations and negotiations would become more difficult if the deal on the ground didn't hold. mr staffan de mistura says more talks are the best way to solve the war in syria and the european refugee crisis. >> they don't want to leave. at the moment we have, god willing, a real cessation of tensions, humanitarian access and implementation of these three points, new government, constitution and elections, i can bet many of them not only many will not live but will return, especially if we have a massive plan to reveal, which is by far going to be cheaper than actually handing millions of refugees coming into europe or elsewhere >>> going to india where the high court will hear a plea of bail for a student leader charged with sedition. he was arrested in february after students held a rally against the man convicted for the 2013 attack on the indian parliament. it watts the largest protest across the country. what are the chances that he will get what h

staffan de mistura is pushing for a political solution and says there will be further talks in two weeks. >> the next round of talks will be not focusing on principles again. we have had enough of that and i think many valid common points there but to start focusing on the political process and to us political process based on the security council resolution adopted by everyone is political resolution. >> u.n. estimates almost 3,000 lives have been saved since the pause in fighting in syria and while diplomates struggle to find a political solution the reduction in violence is being felt in aleppo and we report on life for residents there and talks to syrians and neighboring turkey about what they think of the talks in geneva. >> reporter: it's almost a month since the start of the truce which appears to be holding leaving the market in the city of aleppo bustling with people and scenes of relative ease and calm. talks in geneva to find a political solution have adjourned without major breakthrough and he is not convinced it will work at all. >> translator: we hope god brings piece but i

de mistura, the u.n. envoy staffan de mistura for syria, had been calling for and had expressed some level of frustration at the fact that maybe the syrian government delegation was not tackling that issue. it was more talking about modalities and principles rather than really tackling the core issue about how to bring about this transition >>> thank you for that. israeli soldiers say they've shot and killed two palestinians who tried to stab them at a check point in hebron. footage has emerged of one of the palestinians being shot as he lay incapacitated to the ground. our correspondent has more. >> reporter: the 21-year-old man has been shot and lies injured on the ground. the israeli army says he and another attempted to stab a soldier who is likely injured. other soldiers stand around and then suddenly one takes aim and and to shoot the palestinian in the head, videorecorded by the human rights group said it will probably do little to calm an already intense situation. this is a microcosm where a thou

envoy staffan de mistura is not easy. he is trying to convince all sides to end the war and negotiate a political compromise. attempts to strike a deal failed because of groping divisions. houthi rebels will still control the rebel say they are a legitimate authority. the government backed by a saudi- led coalition insists the war will continue until the shia rebels disarm. but on the ground hopes for peace are over shadowed by the fighting. this is a district in the oil-rich p province close to the capital. it has been retaken by pro-government troops. the army says it's waiting for orders to go into here. >> the fashion army has been formed only nine months ago but it has expanded. but it leads the fight. we are making major gains. >> reporter: the army backed by tribes men is on the offensive which is one of the last remaining rebel-held areas in yemen. the houthis have put up a strong resistance. hundreds of their fighters are holding ground in the mountainous region. >> translation: my unit is advancing. we have reta

special envoy staffan de mistura, says he would like presidential elections within 18 months. who is at those talks? the syrian government has agreed to attend but the foreign minister says the post of syrian president isn't up for discussion. only accept a transitional governing body and doesn't want president bashar al-assad to be part of that. russia on the other hand wants ethnic kurds included in those talks but they haven't been invited. i.s.i.l. and the armed group el nusra front has also been exclude he from thed from the t. staffan de mistura said there's own one way forward. our diplomatic editor james bays is there. hi there james. what about the imminent withdrawal of some of russia's forces? >> reporter: i think that's very, very important development julie and in fact we have come to the hotel where the syrian government delegation are based to try and get some reaction. no reaction so far. we know that president putin did inform president assad before making this announcement, an announcement he made while he was with his defense minister. he said in large part

special envoy to syria, staffan de mistura has wrapped up the latest round ofndirect talks between the syrian government and the opposition. both sides are still in disagreement over the transition of power. staffan de mistura is pushing for a political solution and says there will be further talks in two weeks. >> the next round of talks will be not focusing on principles again. we have had enough of that and there are many valid common points there, but to start focusing on the political process, and to us political process based on the security council adopted by everyone is political cessation >>> the u.n. estimates nearly 3,000 lives have been saved since the pause of fighting in syria. while diplomats struggle to find a political solution the reduction in violence is being felt in aleppo. a report now on the life for residents there and what they think about the talks in geneva. >> reporter: it is almost a month since the start of the truce which appears to be hold i ing. talks in geneva to the political solution has adjourned without a major break through. this man is not convin