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Syrian opposition did not receive an invitation to attend talks Moscow

Syria opposition did not receive any invitations from Russia to participate in talks with the representatives of Bashar al-Assad’s government

BEIRUT, January 30 (Itar-Tass) — Syria’s opposition did not receive any invitations calling for them to be involved in talks with the representatives of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Russia, an opposition member said on Monday.

"We have not received any offer like that officially and I think, if such an offer exists, it will be no more than an attempt to influence the (U.N.) Security Council. But I say clearly that our position has not changed and it is that there is no dialogue with (President Bashar al-Assad)," Abdel Baset Seda, a member of the Syrian council's executive committee, told Reuters.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Russia urged the Syrian authorities and the opposition to send representatives to Moscow for holding informal contacts without preconditions. “Due to the non-easy situation in Syria and our strive for contributing to the settlement of the conflict in Syria by peaceful means, we called on the Syrian authorities and all opposition groups to send their representatives to Moscow within the mutually acceptable terms to hold informal contacts without any preconditions. This would the Syrian parties to discuss any issues without restrictions, including preparations for an inter-Syrian dialogue under the LAS aegis,” the ministry said. “We are convinced that the Moscow contacts are indispensable in order to immediately cease any violence in Syria, prevent bloodshed and confrontation in the society, and ensure the success of deep democratic transformations in the country in compliance with the aspirations of all Syrians,” the ministry said.

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