One cannot rely only on one Syrian opposition group, representation of all groups, including Kurds, needed at Geneva talks - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov links the success of the talks on Syria in Geneva with adequate representation of all opposition groups, including the Syrian Kurds.
"Without adequate representation of all opposition groups, including Moscow, Cairo, Astana and Hmeimim [groups], as well as the Kurds, it is impossible to ensure the success of the next Geneva round. The inadmissibility of repeating the errors of the past, when due to the reliance on only one radically driven external opposition group this process has been frozen since April 2016, was highlighted," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary following the outcomes of the talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura ahead of the contacts in Geneva on February 23.
"In the line of regular contacts the parties continued to exchange opinions on the whole spectrum of issues of Syrian crisis settlement. In this context the important significance of the 'Astana process', which was launched under the aegis of Russia, Turkey and Iran and in which the Syrian parties - the government and the armed opposition are involved, was underlined," the commentary said.
