ID :
378807
Mon, 08/31/2015 - 12:19
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Russian foreign minister to discuss implementation of "Moscow platform" with Syrian opposition

MOSCOW, August 31. /TASS/. Implementation of the "Moscow platform" will become a topic on the agenda of Monday’s meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and representatives of the Syrian opposition, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The "Moscow platform" was agreed at April consultations between representatives of Damascus and most part of the Syrian opposition in Moscow. The Russian ministry said consultations are ongoing "within the framework of efforts to speed up the launch of political process in Syria on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012." Moscow has repeatedly stressed that its aim is to unite the Syrian opposition. The Moscow document underscores the principles of the Geneva Communique, contain a call on the international community to render influence upon all Arab, regional and global sides, pushing them to implement resolutions of the United Nations Security Council on the fight against terrorism and stop all activities supporting terrorism. Lavrov, during his numerous contacts with counterparts from regional countries and the United States, has always underscored that it is up to Syrians themselves to determine the fate of their country. Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Lebanese TV station Al Manar a few days ago that Damascus supports Russia’s efforts to organize intra-Syrian dialogue and believes it conducts "a policy based on firm principles". "We feel a great confidence in Russians, they have proven for many decades that they are sincere friends," Assad said. "Russia does not support this or that figure or president, it has clear principles. It speaks in support of the state sovereignty and respects the people’s decision." He said Damascus "approves and encourages Russia’s efforts to arrange dialogue with the opposition." "Russians do not impose anything on us. An agreement may only emerge when we Syrians ourselves sit down to the negotiating table with one another," the president said. He did not rule out that intra-Syrian meetings taking place in Moscow will lead to a conference to be entitled "Geneva-3", which could be successful. According to UN statistics, fighting between Syrian government troops and militants has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011. An international peace conference on Syria, dubbed Geneva-2, organized by Russia and the United States and designed to negotiate a solution to the Syrian crisis, held in January and February 2014, brought no particular progress. Read more

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