Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Moscow, SANA –Russia will be ready to continue assisting Syrian-Syrian contacts by all possible means, Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
It noted in a statement that the inter-Syrian discussions which took place in Moscow reflects an increasing inclination on the part of the various components of the Syrian society towards searching more effectively and actively for means to restore peace in Syria.
“We support this inclination,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
A Russia-hosted round of consultative discussions between a delegation of the Syrian government and opposition figures and parties were held in Moscow over the past four days and ended on Thursday.
The government delegation, along with five opposition parties and other figures agreed to a set of guidelines presented by Russia, which were called “Moscow Principles”. The guidelines postulate maintaining Syria’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and fighting terrorism.
The meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, was the “first direct contact” between the representatives of the government and the opposition after inter-Syrian talks broke down in February, 2014.
The participants in Moscow meeting agreed on Thursday to hold another round of consultations, whose date is to be set at a later time.
Churkin: Supplementary efforts needed to shape up a fruitful inter-Syrian dialogue format
Meanwhile, Russia’s UN Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin stressed the transparency of his country’s efforts to aid in reaching a solution to the crisis in Syria.
“Russia’s efforts to assist the settlement of the Syrian conflict are absolutely transparent,” Churkin said Thursday.
“We’re always open for collaboration on the basis of UN Charter principles with anyone who wishes to help launch the process of peace settlement,” said Churkin.
He noted that “Everyone should realize that the process will be protracted and knotty and will require supplementary efforts to shape up a really fruitful dialogue format.”
Russia’s UN ambassador said Moscow doesn’t make a problem out of the absence of the so-called opposition “Coalition” from the consultative meeting, making clear that “Efforts to promulgate the all-nation dialogue will continue, and not only by Russia.”
“We’ll welcome the efforts that may be taken by any other countries, too, if they aim to create optimal conditions for inclusive dialogue, in the format of which the Syrians will reach all agreements on their own, said Churkin.
Haifa Said
