Moscow ready for contacts with opposition Free Syrian Army - top Russian diplomat
MOSCOW. Dec 19 (Interfax) - Russia is prepared to engage in dialogue with representatives of the Free Syrian Army, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.
"Let us presume that we would be ready to communicate with representatives of the Free Syrian Army as part of our contacts," Bogdanov told Interfax, after being asked with which group of the Syrian opposition's military wing Russia might agree to deal with.
Terrorists from Syria's armed opposition affiliated with Al Qaeda "would refuse come to us themselves, and no one will speak to them," he said.
"What kind of conversation can be held with them?" he added.
"As for other opposition groups, including the opposition's military wing, which, let us hope, advocates some patriotic ideas concerning Syria's future as a country the sovereignty and territorial integrity of which should be maintained, and Syrian society's unity should be preserved on the basis of consensus, I believe that no one will object to [their participation in the Geneva II conference]," Bogdanov said.
