Kremlin: Syrian National Dialogue Congress to be Convened after its Participants Confirmed

SOCHI- The Syrian National Dialogue Congress will be convened after experts agree on its participants, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

“There is a stable consensus that the Congress will be convened soon, this will happen after an intense work at the expert level on agreeing on the list of participants of this Congress,” Peskov said.

“Obviously, this list should be inclusive to the maximum extent as a viable formula of political dialogue may be ensured only due to the participation of the broadest representation of all (groups) in Syria,” he said, Itar Tass reported.

 Speaking on the joint statement made by the Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents at their meeting in Sochi on Wednesday, Peskov stressed that this is “not a protocol of intentions but an absolutely clear position.”

The Kremlin is aware of Turkey’s remarks on the forces that it considers as posing a threat to its national security. “But this does not mean that the work won’t be carried out. Now a very intense expert work will be conducted on agreeing and confirming the lists. After it is finalized, we expect this Congress to be convened in Sochi, and this was declared in the document,” Peskov said.

Peskov noted that the date of the meeting “did not emerge during the night,” adding that the Kremlin press service will announce if the contacts on this issue take place or phone conversations with US President Donald Trump are held.

Peskov also said that it is too early to speak about establishing a committee on elaboration of Syria’s new constitution.

“So far, it is too early to speak about that,” he told journalists.

H.M