Lavrov, Ki-moon: Sound Plan for International Conference on Syria Imperative

MOSCOW, (ST) –” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed over  a phone call on the  situation in Syria particularly  on the military situation in al-Qseir,”said a statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website on Monday

During the phone call,Lavrov and Ban Ki-moon underlined the need to resolve the situation in Syria and the need for a sound plan  as regards  the international conference on Syria due to be held in Geneva.

 Russia presses US for more push on “rebels” in Syria

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has chided the US over its reluctance to push opposition groups towards taking part in the planned conference on Syrian peace in Geneva,According to Voice of Russia.

“We believe the US is clearly not outspoken enough in urging Syrian opposition organizations to send their representatives to the international conference we’ve been preparing,” Mr. Ryabkov said in an interview to Russian media.

The high-ranking official of Russia’s foreign ministry also called on Washington to advise rebels in Syria against giving their ultimatums.

“It is unacceptable. We won’t be able to agree on that stance,” Mr. Ryabkov noted.

He said there existed certain discrepancies between the US and Russia on Tehran’s participation in the global roundtable.

 “This problem is still open. But there will be no breakthrough without Iran,” he added.

M.D