TEHRAN – Russia once again reiterated that it welcomes Iran’s presence in the upcoming international conference on Syria,according to ISNA.
“It would hardly happen in September, because there will be other events, for instance, the UN General Assembly’s ministerial week,” the Interfax news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying.
The Russian diplomat said his country did want to convene the conference as soon as possible.
“But we have to take into account the real circumstances which could affect that forum,” the diplomat said, adding that Russia and US representatives would meet late August to discuss details of preparation for the conference.
Gatilov will take part in that meeting, which will be also attended by another Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.
He had also called Iran an important regional player which can play a significant role in settlement of the crisis in Syria.
M.D