Syria talks are a beginning, says U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi January 31, 2014 -- Updated 1315 GMT (2115 HKT) U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi says talks are a "modest beginning" but can be built on The negotiations are due to resume February 10, Brahimi says "The gaps between the two sides remain wide," he says, but there is some common ground Syria's government and opposition have been engaged in talks in Geneva for a week (CNN) -- As multi-day talks in Switzerland involving Syria's government and the opposition come to a close, the United Nations envoy to Syria said they were at least a start, and the two sides had some common ground. "This is a modest beginning, but it is a beginning on which we can build," envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Friday. The peace talks are due to resume in Geneva on February 10, Brahimi said. The opposition has agreed to the date but the Syrian government delegation said it must first consult with Damascus, he said. Brahimi said that progress would seem far too slow for all those people suffering day-to-day in Syria -- but that the difficulties of the situation meant it would unfortunately take time to reach any resolution. "The gaps between the two sides remain wide, there's no use pretending otherwise," he said. Nevertheless, during our discussions I observed a little bit of common ground -- perhaps more than the two sides themselves realize or recognize. January 30, 2014 -- Updated 2333 GMT (0733 HKT) January 31, 2014 -- Updated 1302 GMT (2102 HKT) January 31, 2014 -- Updated 1011 GMT (1811 HKT)