Moscow Meeting Should Lead to Internationally Backed Negotiations, Says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow talks on the crisis in Syria aims at letting the “conflicting parties” discuss the different ways of reaching peace.

Lavrov added that the various Syrian factions did not set preconditions before participating in Moscow talks, noting that they all agree on ending the crisis and restoring peace and security.

The Russian top diplomat considered that Moscow talks should lead to internationally backed negotiations.

Syrian opposition figures were meeting in Moscow on Monday as part of a new Russia-coordinated bid to have a solution to the crisis in Syria.

Syria Opposition Start Talks with Russian Officialsin Moscow

Syrian opposition groups on Monday began four days of talks on how to find a solution to the crisis in Syria, with representatives of the Syrian government set to join them.

The talks are set to run until Thursday.

“Around 25 (members of the Syrian opposition) have arrived. I think there will be up to 30,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

But the western-backed exiled opposition alliance, the National Coalition, is not attending the Moscow talks although five of its members are there in a personal capacity along with members of opposition groups tolerated by the Damascus.

“Any talks should be held in a neutral country and overseen by the United Nations,” a source in the coalition said earlier.

The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, will head the government team, which will join the talks on Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week he hoped there would be “chemistry” at the meetings that will help the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, organize a new peace conference to negotiate a way out of the crisis.

Lavrov may meet members of opposition groups on Wednesday “if there is a constructive mood”, Bogdanov said.

Al- Manar News

R.S