Moscow, SANA – Russian President’s Special Representative to the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Bogdanov said that all stances should came in line with the statements of the International Syria Support Group endorsed by the UN Security Council, including resolutions 2336 and 2254 which provide for preserving Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In an interview with SANA correspondent in Moscow, Bogdanov said that the future of Syria should be determined by the Syrians themselves without preconditions, adding that Astana talks pave the way for Geneva and that it is why Russia called for organizing this meeting in cooperation with those who have influence on developments on the ground and through direct communications with the Syrian government and some “opposition” groups.
He added that communications continued with representatives of the civil society, opposition Damascus Platform, social and political organizations and syndicates to discuss different issues that concern Syrians.
For her part, Chairperson of Federal Council of Russia, Valentina Matvienko, underlined the importance of Astana talks which stresses that there is no alternative to political solution to crisis in Syria, adding that it is too early to speak about the results of such long and difficult process
She stressed the need to continue to combat terrorism in Syria till it is totally eliminated.
R.Raslan/Mazen