The second phase of the Syrian peace talks is scheduled to start today in Geneva. Members of the main Syrian opposition bloc, known as the Higher Negotiation Committee, arrived in Geneva on Tuesday. 

The meeting comes ahead of another round of UN-backed talks after having been delayed last week by UN mediator Staffan de Mistura. The mediator said earlier he wanted to ensure the seriousness of all sides involved. However, the talks on Wednesday will now see the two sides from Syria sitting together around the table. Their requests will be brokered by UN mediators. Damascus said that it is unwilling to engage in discussions about President Bashar al-Assad possibly leaving office as part of that transition. The Syrian opposition has said the core of the issue is not about whether Assad will stay in office or not. The opposition also argued that there was no international will for a political transition.