UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura speaks at a news conference at Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, July 14, 2017.

:: Staffan de Mistura Special Envoy for Syria, praised Saudi efforts to unify the Syrian opposition, on Wednesday.

The UN envoy said, although the violence continues in Syria, efforts are also made to reduce it, pointing out to a significant decline in the level of violence in many areas.

De Mistura said a meeting for the parties involved in the Syrian conflict is set to be held in Geneva next October.

He stressed that the Syrian regime must be aware that it needs to engage in serious and genuine negotiations, as opposed to the tendency of the Syrian regime to pursue a military solution.

Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, urged the conflicting parties in Syria to protect civilians and the infrastructure.

O’Brien added that although the aerial bombardment is less since the signing of the truce agreement in Idlib, the situation is still worrying.

He stressed that all evidence will be presented to prosecute all those involved in crimes against humanity.