(VOVworld) – Another round of UN-mediated Syria peace talks began in Geneva on Monday hoping to end 5 years of bloodshed in Syria. Negotiations are aimed at setting up UN-monitored presidential and parliamentary elections within 18 months. The main stitching point is the future of President Bashar Al Assad. The Damascus government has refused to hold early elections to replace Assad. The opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) demands that any transitional government not include Assad. Unless the Assad issue is resolved, the talks are unlikely to reach any breakthrough.