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Moscow expects direct dialogue at intra-Syrian talks in Geneva: Russian FM

Editor: zhangrui 丨Xinhua

03-23-2017 07:06 BJT

MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Moscow expects ample participation of all parties of the Syrian conflict in the intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, and hopes they will be able to maintain direct dialogue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"I hope that all those invited will come to Geneva, and a businesslike talk will take place there, in which all Syrian parties will participate," Lavrov said at a press conference following his talks with United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

"We expect that positive results may be achieved as a result of the Geneva round, which will enable all participants in the process to contact each other directly," Lavrov added.

He said at the talks with de Mistura, the Russian side stressed the necessity to guarantee a comprehensive character of the opposition's delegation at the new round of talks set to start on Thursday, preventing some groups from usurping the right to represent all opposition.

Lavrov said it was also very important to find a solution involving Syrian Kurds in the Geneva process in spite of Turkey's resistance.

He said Moscow would keep working with Ankara in order to persuade it to accept the Kurds' participation and expected the same from the UN envoy.

Russia has reiterated its support of the agreements reached at the previous round to keep discussing at the intra-Syrian talks the four core issues of governance, preparing the constitution, elections and the fight against terrorism, Lavrov said.

"All these topics are of equal importance and there can be no attempts to peg an advance on one of these issues to the progress on another. All of them are important to establish peace and stability on the territory of Syria," he said.

Several rounds of talks have been held in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations for a political settlement of the long-term Syrian civil war, but progress has been difficult to make.

There has been a parallel process since Jan. 23 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with Russia, Turkey and Iran as the mediators.

 

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