FM: Confirmation of Geneva II dates – main result of Russia-US-UN consultations

MOSCOW- Confirmation of the dates for an international peace conference on Syria became the main result of another round of the consultations among diplomats from Russia, the United States and the UN, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to ITAR TASS.

The diplomats met in Geneva to discuss the preparation for the conference dubbed as Geneva II due on January 22, 2014.

 “This fact reflects that the overwhelming majority of countries is aware that there is no alternative to political and diplomatic means in settling the crisis in Syria, what Russia has been insisting on from the very beginning,” the ministry said. “The consultations emphasized that the political process should contribute to consolidation of efforts of all Syrians in the war on terrorism.”

All participants in the consultations were unanimous in their opinion that the soonest possible start of the inter-Syrian talks under mutually agreed conditions and on the platform of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012, would be targeted at stopping the bloodshed and violence in that country without delays.

“Delegates welcomed the information by UN special envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi on the formation of the Syrian government’s delegation to Geneva II,” the ministry said.

At the consultations the Russian delegation placed a focus on importance of “finalising a representative composition of external delegates and inviting influential regional players to secure a lasting settlement in Syria and to fulfil future solutions of the conference.” “Russia and the United Nations believe that Iran should be added to this list,” the ministry said.

The Russian delegation to the Geneva consultations was led by deputy foreign ministers, Mikhail Bogdanov and Gennady Gatilov. The United States was represented by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Jones, and the United Nations – by Lakhdar Brahimi.

M.D