MOSCOW, November 24 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia is working permanently with Damascus and the Syrian opposition, urging to begin joint work based on the initiative of the League of Arab States, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
“The UN SC has a draft resolution on Syria, presented by Russia and China,” he said. “The document urges for a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation in that country on the basis of all sides’ stopping violence and beginning a dialogue on reforms, which the Syrian authorities have announced.”
“This is the purpose of our permanent work with Damascus and the opposition,” he continued. “We urge them to get involved immediately in joint work on the basis of the LAS’ well-known initiative.”
“There are some positive results, which allow further movement in this direction,” Gatilov said.
“We are sure that only this approach may avoid deepening of Syria’s inner crisis,” the deputy minister continued. “It is especially important that all outside forces support launch of the dialogue by the Syrian sides, and not call the opposition to ignore the reforming initiatives from Syria’s authorities thus inciting to violence.”
“We believe it unacceptable to support outside interventions, which are bound to destabilise the situation not only in Syria, but in the entire region,” Gatilov concluded.