Talks between the Syrian government and rebel groups in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, have entered a second day after a tough start that saw the two sides trading accusations and refusing to meet face-to-face.
The meeting, organised by Russia and Turkey, is aimed at strengthening a nationwide ceasefire that has largely held despite pockets of violence across the country, and paving the way towards United Nations-led political negotiations in Geneva on February 8.
Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria who is in Astana in a supportive role, said on Tuesday that a final statement was close to being agreed.
"We are working hard for a declaration that can reassure the process of the actual cessation of hostilities becomes more solid," he told reporters.
"There are very intense discussions because this is not about a paper; it is about cessation of hostilities, which means saving lives."
But opposition spokesman Yahya al-Aridi played down expectations that the rebels would sign a potential collective statement at the end of the talks, saying that several obstacles still needed to be overcome.
"I don't believe that the communique will be strong enough to be taken to the UN," said Aridi, citing a number of rebel demands, including the lifting of sieges, the release of prisoners and the delivery of aid to besieged areas, that he said had not yet been "confirmed".
"If we succeed … this could be a very strong political paper that could be taken to Geneva to continue the political track for talks about … a political transition in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254," Aridi stated.
If the Astana talks do not build toward the Geneva process, he added, "our efforts may have been in vain".
The talks mark the first time the Syrian opposition is represented solely by representatives of armed groups.
On Monday, delegates from the warring sides sparred over interpretations of the December 30 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, as their respective regional backers met behind closed doors to keep the meeting on track.
Bashar al-Jaafari, head of the Syrian government delegation, accused the opposition of "misinterpreting" the tenets of the truce, saying the "provocative tone and lack of seriousness in the opposition delegation chief's speech" had "irritated the attendees' diplomatic senses and experience".
Referring to the rebel delegation as "terrorists", Jaafari said opposition groups who signed the truce deal were "trying to undermine and sabotage the Astana meetings".
Aljazeera