UN Syria envoy not expecting breakthrough at Geneva talks

Playing down expectations, the UN envoy for Syria said Wednesday he’s not expecting a breakthrough in the first UN-mediated peace talks between government representatives and the opposition in 10 months, rather hoping to build momentum toward peace after nearly six years of war. Staffan de Mistura spoke a day before convening the two sides amid a recent cease-fire that he said has largely held, and recent battlefield gains by President Bashar Assad’s forces.