Lavrov to de Mistura: Russia will support efforts aimed at resuming political process in Syria

Moscow, SANA – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that Russia will fully support all efforts aimed at resuming the political process in Syria in a way that takes into consideration past mistakes.

Lavrov comments came during his meeting with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura who is visiting Russia for the first time since his appointment in this position in July.

Lavrov said that Russia is ready to provide support to efforts aimed at resuming talks among the Syrians, highlighting the need for ensuring a wide representation of the Syrian opposition in these talks, not to mention the participation of Syria’s neighboring countries.

Regarding talks on solving the crisis in Syria, Lavrov said that Geneva Communiqué of June 30th 2012 constitutes a strong foundation for their resumption, adding that the fundamental principle is the need to create conditions under which all Syrian sides and representatives of political powers “will decide by themselves on the future of their homeland.”

He noted that “many problems are based on the situation in Syria, among them the growing terrorist threat in the Middle East,” adding that any solution to the crisis in Syria must satisfy all sides.

Lavrov indicated that Russia has welcomed the appointment of de Mistura as UN Special Envoy for Syria and that it has called for resuming political efforts to solve the crisis in Syria a long time ago.

For his part, de Mistura stressed the need for solving the crisis through political dialogue, excluding the possibility of any military solution.

Rasha Raslan / Hazem Sabbagh

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