NZWeek
Source:Xinhua By Thomas Whittle
MOSCOW — Moscow would keep a wary eye on an upcoming Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco, Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
Russia hasn’t been involved in the activities of the Friends of Syria Group since the very beginning because of its “unilateral nature” which was aimed at contacting only the Syrian opposition instead of all sides of the conflict, foreign ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said in an online comment.
Russia would see if the Marrakesh meeting could make some ” adjustments” to the hardline approach of some Syrian opposition groups, who didn’t show any willingness to negotiate with Syrian government and insisted on continuing armed struggle, he said.
Russia has “consistently and faithfully” performed and called for a joint of the Syrian opposition forces on a constructive platform in line with consensus reached by the Geneva meeting on June 30, Lukashevich said.
Meanwhile, Russia called for conflicting sides to lay down their weapons and go back to the negotiation table so to discuss the formation of a “transitional governing body” and implement a political settlement to end the prolonged crisis, said the spokesman.
According to an U.S. State Department spokesperson, the meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, will focus on “how best to continue support for the Syrian opposition and on efforts to end the bloodshed.”
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