| Politics |
Bugdanov: Russia ready to host international conference on Syria
MOSCOW– Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Tuesday that Russia is ready to host a new meeting of the world powers on Syria, adding that Moscow calls for holding such meetings periodically and extending representation.
In a statement, Bogdanov said that the Geneva meeting results provided that UN Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, calls for another meeting of the international group which met in Geneva on June 30, adding that the Russian side is waiting for tangible results out of Geneva's negotiations.
He expressed Russia's regret for the absence of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Geneva meeting, adding that these two countries have enormous influence on the situation in Syria and they can contribute to the joint efforts exerted by Syria's neighbors such as Lebanon and Jordan, which were not represented at Geneva meeting, to restore security and stability to Syria.
He added that talks on the failure of Annan's plan are harmful politically and morally as they directly or indirectly lead to escalating violence in Syria.
On some interpretations of Geneva meeting outcome, Bogdanov said that any international meeting cannot decide the fate of Syria and its president.
"The fate of a particular leader should be decided by the people in accordance with international legislation," Bogdanov said.
He pointed out that the final document of Geneva meeting provides that members of the current government and the opposition can enter the governing transitional body in Syria according to mutual agreement.
On the military technical cooperation between Russia and Syria, Bogdanov pointed out that the two countries had established various relations since the 1950s. military technical cooperation is an essential component of these relations.
Tuesday 10-07-2012
