7 Aug 2013 12:33

Dates for new intl conference on Syria in Geneva still unclear - Russian diplomat

MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - Moscow deems the progress in preparations for a new conference on Syria in Geneva inadequate and therefore cannot say when it could be held, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Interfax.

"There is some progress in the right direction, namely as regards the formulation of parameters of the future conference, but it is insufficient to name any dates," Ryabkov said in an interview with Interfax.

The speculations by some that the Syrian opposition should have access to modern weapons do not help prepare the conference and complicate the situation even more, he said.