Russian Foreign Ministry hopes to arrange meeting of Syrian govt and opposition members in Moscow
MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) -The Russian Foreign Ministry is hopeful that following consultations with the Syrian opposition that may be held in Moscow at the end of January, the Russian capital may host a meeting of Syrian opposition members and representatives of the Damascus authorities.
"We would like 20-25 representatives of different Syrian opposition circles, both the internal and external opposition, to meet in Moscow," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Interfax.
"As soon as they meet and discuss between themselves the situation, common ideas and approaches, we would like to immediately invite representatives of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic in order to enable both sides to present their assessments of the situation and visions concerning their future life," Bogdanov said.
At the possible meeting in Moscow, the Syrian opposition will be represented by well-known people, "who could generate some ideas concerning a political settlement to the Syrian crisis."
The consultations with Syrian opposition and a possible meeting with representatives of the Syrian government will be unofficial, Bogdanov said.
"We would like to stress that it will be an unofficial meeting without any preliminary conditions and without any preliminary obligations. We have no heightened expectations. It will be simply a chance for them to say to each other what they have been saying to us," he said.
"Hopefully, by having these useful contacts, the Syrian sides should move forward in their common understanding of how the existing document [the June 30 Geneva communique] has been implemented," the high-ranking Russian diplomat said.
