Lavrov: Delay of Geneva-2 to Cause more Bloodshed in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Geneva II conference on Syria should be held without delay because any delay will increase the number of victims in this conflict, according to the Voice of Russia.

 “Everyone agrees that this forum should take place as soon as possible. Every day of delay means death and suffering for many people. For this reason, it is important that the conflicting parties have negotiations in Geneva,” Lavrov said in an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram.

“There is no military solution to the crisis in Syria,” the minister said.

Lavrov also commented on the situation in Egypt, saying that Russia believed the Egypt’s political problems must be resolved through peaceful, evolutionary means and a nationwide dialogue involving all social parties concerned.

He said Russia “feels that, despite the multi-facet problems faced by Egypt, its people will be able to find an efficient way of solving them on their own and take into consideration each and every interests of each and every political, ethnic and sectarian group.”

Lavrov also said that Russia’s foreign office never prohibited its tourists from travelling to Egypt, but only cautioned them against visiting this Arab country.

“The Russian government may advise not to travel to a country due to the state of emergency or other circumstances that can hamper its ability to protect its citizens. That is the kind of concern that the Russian Foreign Ministry made after the Egyptian Republic declared a state of emergency in August of this year.”

H. Mustafa