Putin: Congress in Sochi Presents Opportunity to Eradicate Terrorism in Syria

SOCHI- Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi provides an opportunity to meet the Syrians’ aspirations to end the war and fully eradicate terrorism.

 In his message to the participants in the forum read out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin said “your forum is called upon to reunite the Syrian people after the armed conflict that lasted nearly seven years, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions of citizens to leave their home country.”

The Russian president affirmed that only Syria’s people may determine the country’s future.

“Jointly with the partners in the Astana process — Iran and Turkey, influential Arab states, Syria’s neighbors, we tried to make this event as representative as possible, based on the fact that only the people of Syria have the right to determine the future of their country,” Putin said.

 According to Itar Tass, the Russian leader stressed that “there is a good opportunity to meet the Syrians’ aspirations to end the fratricidal war, fully eradicate terrorism and return to normal life.”

Syrians should jointly develop their vision of prospects to overcome the crisis and outline reforms in the country, according to Putin.

“Now all the constructive forces of the Syrian society have a key task of developing a common vision of prospects to overcome the crisis and together outlining the reforms that would enable citizens, regardless of their religious, ethnic background and social status, to feel safe and comfortable in their motherland,” the president said.

Earlier, the Syrian National Dialogue Congress kicked off in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The opening of the Congress was delayed as group of armed opposition members arriving from Turkey had set preconditions for their participation.

A number of documents, including a final declaration on the principles of resolving the Syria crisis, may be adopted at the Congress. Besides, permanent committees, including that on the constitutional reform, may be established.

Vitaly Naumkin:  Sochi congress to boost Geneva talks on Syria

Head of the Institute of Oriental Studies in Russia Vitaly Naumkin said the Syrian National Dialogue Congress that opened on Tuesday in Sochi will galvanize the talks on Syria in Geneva. He also stressed that only the Syrian people are in charge of drafting the Syrian constitution.

The Geneva talks will receive a boost after the Sochi [congress] and will be promoted. I am confident that the decision on whether [the congress] should be held on a regular basis and whether it will continue or not should be taken during consultations with our partners,” the expert said, Tass reported.

“The arrival of UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in Sochi means that the Sochi platform is operating within international law,” Naumkin noted. “This adds legitimacy to the congress; that said, the forum does not replace the Geneva format.

He pointed out that the refusal of some parties to participate in the congress won’t affect its activities.

H.M