Lavrov: Moscow meeting to prepare for Further Inter-Syrian Dialogue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed yesterday that the goal of the Inter- Syrian meeting in Moscow is to assist in preparation for a new round of talks between the Syrian parties to reconsider errors happened in previous talks in Geneva.

Lavrov said during his annual news conference on Russia’s diplomatic performance for 2014 that, “there were two mistakes committed in the two rounds of Geneva first : Inviting only part of the opposition, the so-called coalition, while ignoring the rest of the groups, including internal and some external groups and the second error is that the Montreux Conference, which launched Geneva 2 talks was held in the form of media propaganda with the participation of more than fifty foreign ministers,providing an open dialogue,which only helped in multiple positions but did not come up with solutions. “

He stressed the need to have a quiet atmosphere and calm dialogue, and the participation of all sides concerned in order to work on finding a political solution, pointing out that Russia is working towards that objective, which is one of the most important points Geneva one statement highlighted, in calling for representing all Syrian social strata.

Replying a question put by SANA correspondent in Moscow on the agenda of Moscow meeting, Lavrov said that the Syrian ” opposition groups will talk with each other separately, without the presence of other countries and they can be only helped to start the dialogue and the opposition should understand that they must live in Syria as a sovereign and united state and under the protection of all groups, adding that this will help the UN Secretary General Special Envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to find a new formula for the settlement process. “

Lavrov stressed that Moscow meeting should not be made as public propaganda as had happened in Montreux, pointing out that those who refused to participate and Moscow meeting are few and a list of participants in the meeting will be  announced soon.

“There is now growing conviction in the West that a political solution to the crisis in Syria is inevitable, but their first task at the moment is to face Daesh organization, Lavrov emphasized, adding that “Russia has since long talked about the need to root out terrorism and not to allow the formation of al-Kheilafa system in the region, which we consider to be a priority today before the formation of any new system there. “

Lavrov continued that it was agreed in June 2012 between the G- eight to invite the Syrian government and the opposition to unite their efforts to confront terrorism when the “Islamic state” organization was not formed yet, stressing that the fight against terrorism is the main task to be done to eliminate the crisis in Syria, pointing out that the bombing sites in any sovereign state under the pretext of eliminating terrorist groups, without the consent of the country concerned and the UN Security Council is illegitimate, as is happening today in Syria.

 “The fight against terrorism must be carried put on the international law principles and that the UN Security Council is the only side authorized to classify any group as terrorist and that the international coalition formed by the US on Syrian territory without government approval and therefore when we talk about the fight against terrorism in Syria must take into account that Syria is a natural ally in this struggle. ” Lavrov said.

Lavrov said, “The rhetoric of some Western powers about not cooperating with the Syrian government in the fight against terrorism is invalid, because the process of removing the Syrian chemical weapons was made through cooperation and proved that the Syrian government is ready to reach agreements.”

 T. Fateh