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Syrian ambassador says Damascus is ready for constructive dialogue

Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riyad Mohammad Haddad said he is ready for a constructive dialogue with the opposition

MOSCOW, March 7 (Itar-Tass) — Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riyad Mohammad Haddad said he is ready for a constructive dialogue with the opposition.

Commenting on the results of Wednesday’s meeting between Russian special envoy for the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the Syrian ambassador, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported, “Russia confirmed that it was necessary to cease violence immediately and create conditions for launching a comprehensive political dialogue in order to settle the Syrian crisis by peaceful means with the participation of Syrians themselves and without foreign interference.”

“The resolution of humanitarian problems is indispensable. Russia upheld the efforts of the U.N. and LAS Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan and the U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos,” the ministry said.

For his part, the Syrian ambassador spoke about the country’s efforts to normalise the situation and continue democratic reforms. “Haddad confirmed the Syrian government’s readiness for a constructive dialogue with the opposition,” the ministry said.

Foreign ministers of member-countries of the League of Arab States and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will gather in Cairo on March 10 to discuss the Syrian problem. According to the Russian minister, the upcoming meeting will allow the parties to thoroughly study the situation in Syria. “I don’t believe that we need any new initiatives. We have enough initiatives. These are the Russian resolution and the LAS initiative,” Lavrov said, adding, “They coincide strategically.”

According to the minister, “The problem is that how the world community should build up its actions. Moscow hopes that the Cairo meeting will yield very interesting results.”

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