Lakhdar Ibrahimi: I’m not here to Promote Any Russian-American Plan to Solve Crisis in Syria

DAMASCUS, (ST)- “Geneva Statement includes enough ideas to solve the crisis in Syria within the coming months and there is no need to add new items to this statement,” UN Syria Envoy Lakhdar Ibrahimi underlined on Wednesday.

In a news conference held in Damascus, Ibrahimi said “I didn’t come to the region to promote any Russian-American plan to solve the crisis in Syria.” 

“No one supports the acts of extremist groups in Syria. Violence should stop and arms flow into Syria must end,” Ibrahimi said, expressing hope that all concerned parties will contribute to attaining a solution to the crisis.

Ibrahimi pointed out that: “the situation in Syria is a real danger threatening not only the Syrian people, but also the neighboring countries and the entire world.   

Moscow: No Russian-US Plan for Settlement in Syria

Meanwhile in Moscow, Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Lukashivic has stressed that there is no Russian-US plan for settlement in Syria and that Moscow depends only on the Geneva Statement in this respect.

“No such plan is being discussed,” Russia Today quoted Lukashivic as saying in a press conference on Wednesday.

The Russian official pointed out that the Russian side is discussing with Lakhdar Ibrahimi and Washington a “work plan” adopted in Geneva on June 30, 2012.

“Moscow considers Geneva statement as the basis of any settlement in Syria,” the spokesman said.

On the other hand, Lukashivic said Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov will hold talks with Ibrahimi on issues relating to the political and diplomatic settlement in Syria. Talks will also deal with Ibrahimi’s latest efforts to stop violence and launch national dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition parties on the basis of Geneva statement.

Lukashivic pointed out that the visit of Syria’s Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal al-Mikdad to Moscow comes within Russia’s diplomatic efforts to enhance dialogue with the Syrian government and opposition in order to put an end to violence in the country.

He stressed the need to take decisive and active procedures to stop violence.

H. Moustafa