Lavrov: Syrians Only Who Decide Syria’s Fate Russia Invites Syrian Opposition Chief for Talks

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed on Friday that the Syrians are the only side to determine the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "With all due respect to the international community, it is, of course, the Syrian people who must decide" Assad's fate, Lavrov told reporters when asked about his meeting Thursday with Syria's deputy foreign minister, Fayssal al-Mikdad. The top diplomat made clear on Friday that Moscow's position on the Syrian crisis had not changed. "The international community must not incite either side toward violence or pose preliminary conditions," Lavrov urged. Meanwhile, he said Russia was pressing the Syrian leadership to talk to the opposition. “We actively encouraged... the Syrian leadership to maximally put into action its declared readiness for dialogue with the opposition”. Lavrov said Moscow also encouraged Assad's government "to underscore that they are open to discussing the widest range of items in line with the agreements reached in Geneva on June 30." He said after his meeting with Mikdad that "the chances for such a solution... are diminishing." Moscow on Saturday will host Brahimi in a new bid to save efforts at ending the ongoing turmoil.

Russia Invites Syrian Opposition Chief for Talks

Local Editor

Russia said it has sent invitation for talks to the head of the opposition group, Syria National Council. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the talks with the SNC head Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib could take place in Moscow or a foreign location like Geneva or Cairo. "The invitation has been handed over, it is in the hands of Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib," the top diplomat told the RIA Novosti news agency. Russia has so far strongly criticized moves by Western and anti-Assad Arab states to recognize the National Coalition as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people since the group was formed after lengthy talks which lasted in the Qatari capital for four days last month due to the divisions among the opposition factions. A Syrian deputy foreign minister visited Moscow on Thursday and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to meet the international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in the Russian capital on Saturday. Bogdanov also said he expected there to be a new three-way meeting between Brahimi and US and Russian representatives on the Syrian crisis in January. "We will hear what Lakhdar Brahimi says about the Syrian crisis and likely there will be a decision on a new 'triple B' meeting with Lakhdar Brahimi, (US Deputy Secretary of State) William Burns and Mikhail Bogdanov," he said. "But this will be in January, after the (Russian New Year) holidays," Bogdanov added. سوريا… الحل السياسي أقرب من أي وقت River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!