Russia invites Syria opposition to negotiations

Russia has invited the head of the so-called Syrian Opposition National Coalition to join negotiations over the unrest in Syria.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday, “The invitation has been handed over. It is in the hands of Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.

Bogdanov added that the talks could take place in the Russian capital, Moscow, or a foreign location like Geneva or Cairo.

Russia says its stance toward Syria has not changed, denying the existence of any plan with the United States.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the turmoil in Syria needs a political solution and that Moscow wants to avoid “chaos” in the Arab country.

Bogdanov also stated that there were expectations for three-way negotiations between UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and representatives of the US and Russia over the Syrian situation in January.

 “We will hear what Lakhdar Brahimi says about the Syrian crisis and likely there will be a decision on a new ‘triple B’ meeting with Lakhdar Brahimi, (US Deputy Secretary of State) William Burns and Mikhail Bogdanov,” he said.

On December 26, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad together with another foreign ministry official headed to Moscow to discuss proposals reportedly made by Brahimi in Damascus earlier this week.

Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil that began in Syria in March 2011. The Syrian government says certain Western states, especially the United States, and their regional allies are trying to fuel the unrest.

H.SH