Moscow doesn't expect HNC participation in intra-Syrian meeting in Astana in January - Gatilov
MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax) - The participation by the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) in the intra-Syrian meeting in Astana in mid-January is not envisaged, the negotiations will involve the Syrian government and the armed opposition representing those who are 'on the ground.' This format does not replace the Geneva format, but supplements it.
"The meeting in Astana will involve a government delegation and representatives of the opposition. It will be mainly representatives of the opposition that is now 'on the ground,' that is, in Syria. And the HNC is an external opposition," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in an interview with Interfax.
Specifying what is meant by the opposition 'on the ground,' he said: "Of course, if you think logically, it's those who are now in Syria, armed opposition units, with the exception of the terrorist groups ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra, which we cut off immediately because, firstly, the fight against them doesn't stop and, secondly, they cannot be part of a political process. And the so-called 'moderate opposition' should be represented as we have always said, and the Kurds."
"We absolutely don't believe that the agreement on holding a meeting in Astana that has been achieved is some kind of a replacement for the Geneva process. We are working on the assumption that it is an addition to Geneva."
"The HNC has to be invited to Geneva because we are saying all the time that the opposition delegation should represent everyone who has real influence, real power," the high-ranking Russian diplomat said.
"And February 7 is the date set by de Mistura. We believe and we are ready to participate in such negotiations, even if they are called much earlier, for example, in January. It fits in the logic of our position that such negotiations should resume as soon as possible," he said.
"It will be, as usual, negotiations between two sides under the auspices of or with the mediation of the UN and de Mistura. We are not direct participants in these negotiations, it doesn't fit the format of these negotiations, but we are traditionally always present 'on the sidelines' and we are working with all sides [...] I think it will most likely envisage expert support," Gatilov said.