Russia said on Tuesday Iran must be invited to a proposed peace conference on Syria, reiterating its stance after the main Syrian opposition leader said his coalition would not attend if Iran took part.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also criticized Syrian National Coalition chief Ahmad Jarba's demand for a clear time frame for President Bashar al-Assad to leave power, saying there should be no preconditions for the “Geneva 2” peace talks.
“All those with influence on the situation must certainly be invited ... this includes not only Arab countries but also Iran,” Lavrov told a news conference when asked about Jarba's statement.
Two of Lavrov's deputies were due to meet U.S. diplomats and U.N.-Arab League Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Tuesday in Geneva to discuss efforts to convene the long-delayed conference first proposed by the United States and Russia in May.
Also Read
-
Russia says better to remove most chemical weapons from Syria
Russia believes most of Syria’s chemical arsenal should be removed from the country rather than destroyed there, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei ... Middle East -
Brahimi: Assad could contribute to ‘new’ Syria but not as leader
U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who arrived in Damascus Monday, believes President Bashar al-Assad could contribute to the transition to a ... Middle East -
After tension with U.S., Egypt looks to revive ties with Russia
Following recent tensions between Egypt and the United States over Washington’s position on the overthrow of Mohammad Mursi, Cairo appeared ... Analysis
