Iran invited to Geneva 2,says Ki-Moon

Iran has been officially invited to participate in the Geneva 2 Syria peace conference on January 22, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. The Syrian National Coalition has threatened to withdraw from the talks, unless Iran’s invitation is revoked.

The UN chief also said that he had assurances from Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Tehran would play a “constructive role” in solving the crisis in Syria, Reuters reports.

“I believe strongly that Iran needs to be part of the solution to the crisis in Syria,” Ban told reporters today in New York after discussions with Iranian officials. “Iran said that they are committed to play a very constructive and important and positive role.”

Representatives of Iran and 39 other countries will attend talks in Montreux, Switzerland in advance of negotiations in Geneva starting January 24. Ban also has invited nine other nations on Saturday that have an interest in the crisis in Syria, saying that their presence would be an important display of solidarity. These include representatives of Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Greece, the Holy See, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.

M.D