Russia Denies Intending To Attend Syria Friends Confab

Moscow, Feb 22, IRNA - Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich on Tuesday denied some Russian and western media reports on Russia’s intention to participate in a conference of Syria's friendly countries to be held in Tunisia. A Russian Foreign Ministry Statement quoted him as saying Russia has been invited to the conference, but there are many questions to be answered convincingly. “The aims behind the conference, the names of invitees and topics on its agenda have yet to be announced,” Lukashevich said. He said according to information received so far, only some Syrian opposition groups have been invited but none of Syrian government officials has received any invitation. However, he added, evidences show that the conference is going to ignore the interests of the majority of the Syrian people who support their government. The Russian spokesman said the conference cannot in bringing about a national reconciliation for the sake of peace and stability in Syria./end