Russia, Italy Stress Geneva-2 Conference Should Be Held without Preconditions

MOSCOW, ROME- Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Italian counterpart Emma Bonino have stressed that the period of time before holding the international conference on Syria provides enough time to convince the countries which refuse Geneva -2 conference  to take part in this event.

The Italian News Agency AKI quoted the Italian Foreign Ministry as saying that Bonino and Lavrov have welcomed the decision of the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon on setting January 22, 2014 as a date for holding the forthcoming Geneva-2 Conference.

Bonino yesterday stressed that the political solution in the only way to solve the crisis in Syria, expressing Italy’s support for efforts aiming to hold an international conference on Syria.

Lavrov: Geneva-2 conference should be held without preconditions

In a press conference on Wednesday in Moscow, Lavrov urged holding the international conference on Syria (Geneva-2) without precondition, pointing out that there won’t be perfect circumstances for holding it.

Russia Today website quoted Lavrov as saying that “the parties, which try to put conditions for holding Geneva-2 conference, are aiming to postpone or abort the conference.”

“No perfect conditions would be available and all who talk about the need to wait for the attainment of military balance on ground are trying to hinder holding the conference,” Lavrov said.

He added Russia and the US have a common stance on this issue, referring to the discussions and contacts he has recently made with the US State Secretary John Kerry.

“According to this common stance, the conference should be held without preconditions,” he stressed.

He pointed out that “Russia hoped Geneva-2 conference would have been held earlier, but now within the period of time before holding the conference on Jan.22, 2014, Russia will try to hold consultations with all Syrian concerned parties.”

H. Mustafa