Lavrov, Syrian foreign minister to discuss situation in Syria
MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Mualem intend to discuss the prospects of establishing dialogue between the opposition and the Syrian authorities, as well as issues relating to the safety of Russian citizens and foreign missions in Syria.
Lavrov earlier told reporters he would like to hear from Walid al-Mualem "his evaluation of the situation in Syria and discuss issues that need to be resolved to begin dialogue, and of course, to stop the bloodshed."
Lavrov recalled that Russia is working with the opposition and the Syrian authorities to cause them to begin negotiations.
"The main thing we feel now is that the issue of dialogue is becoming a priority, including for those who have until now declined out calls for such negotiations between the government and the opposition and said that President Assad's departure is a precondition for any such contacts," Lavrov said.
"Now we don't hear such conditions. These developments can be welcomed, and although both parties are making different preconditions for such dialogue, the situation has come out of the deadlock and the task of the external players in the contacts between the parties and the international community in general is now to prevent these reconditions from becoming an obstacle to the dialogue," the minister said.
"The Moscow negotiations will touch upon security of Russian citizens and missions in Syria. This is our priority. Syrian authorities are assisting in our efforts, including reinforced protection of the Russian Embassy in Damascus from possible terrorist attacks and other dangers," says a commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry information and press department.
Syria helped the safe departure of two groups of citizens of Russia and other CIS countries via Lebanon in January 2013 and from Latakia in February, the ministry said.
Syrian authorities "also provided assistance in the release of Russian citizens V.V. Gorelov and A.S. Hassun and their Italian colleague who were working Syria on a private contract and were abducted near Homs in December 2012," it noted.
"Among the urgent issues is the issue of the provision by Russia of humanitarian assistance to the hurt population of Syria," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In the meantime, it was reported on Saturday that the National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces of Syria had declined an invitation to visit Moscow and Washington fro negotiations on the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the country.
The opposition activists have also refused to take part in the meeting of the international Friends of Syria group in Rome in March.
The reason for this decision is the missile attack by Bashar Assad's troops on Aleppo, which, according to opposition activists, killed "hundreds of civilians." The opposition activists also blamed Russia for the attack, saying it continues to "supply weapons" to the Assad regime.
Lavrov earlier said leader of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Mouaz Al-Khatib was expected to visit Moscow to begin dialogue between the Syria authorities and opposition in early March.
