The Syrian regime and opposition figures have agreed to finally sit down to talks that could end a nearly three-year civil war after a summit in Switzerland.
At the end of a day of discussion, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said both sides had "taken the first small step" to making peace.
He told a news conference: "Ending this war and making peace will be hard. We have taken the first small step here in Montreux.
"But it can be done, and it must be done. It is still not too late to end the bloodshed and find a peaceful and democratic solution.
Ban Ki-moon described the move as a "small step to peace" "The moment to act courageously and decisively is now."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al Moallem and Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Jarba, urged the talks not to be focused on leadership change in Damascus.
He said: "As for guarantees that the talks will not collapse - it is necessary to influence both delegations so that this does not happen.
"The main thing is to start the process."
The talks between the two sides are expected to last for a week from Friday, before a pause and a second round of discussions.
The UN, Russia and the US were seeking to agree on a prisoner swap in Syria and exchanging lists of people it could potentially include to assist in the peace process.
Earlier the peace talks on the shores of Lake Geneva got off to a rocky start as a bitter clash over President Bashar Assad's future threatened to collapse the negotiations even before they really began.
Walid al Moallem and Ahmed Jarba have agreed to direct talks on Friday US Secretary of State John Kerry told the conference it was time "to deal with reality".
He said: "There is no way - no way possible in the imagination - that the man who has led the brutal response to his own people could regain the legitimacy to govern.
"One man and those who have supported him can no longer hold an entire nation and a region hostage."
But Mr al Moallem said terrorists and foreign meddling had ripped his country apart, and refused to give up the podium despite numerous requests from Mr Ban.
He said: "You live in New York. I live in Syria. I have the right to give the Syrian version here in this forum.
"After three years of suffering, this is my right."
He also accused the West and neighbouring countries of funnelling money, weapons and foreign fighters to the rebellion.
Syrian National Coalition officials had wavered until the last minute on whether to attend the talks. They have insisted that any discussion of Assad continuing to remain in power would effectively end the talks.
The "Geneva II" talks are being held in Montreux on Lake Geneva At least 130,000 people have been killed since a peaceful uprising against Assad's rule began in March 2011, with around 2.3 million refugees created.
On Tuesday, a group of international lawyers published allegations of the "systematic torture and killing" of up to 11,000 people by the Syrian regime.
The "Geneva II" conference went ahead after a last-minute dispute over the UN decision to withdraw an invitation to Iran over Tehran's refusal to endorse a plan for a transitional national body in Syria.
Iran is one of Assad's closest allies.
Later this week in Geneva, Syria's warring sides will sit down for their first face-to-face meeting since the conflict erupted.
While the talks took place, fresh clashes were reported in Damascus, Hama, Aleppo and the southern province of Deraa.
:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.
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