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Russia disagrees with Syrian leadership’s decisions, will press for dialogue

Russia disagrees with many decisions adopted by the Syrian leadership but will press for a political process in that country

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, March 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia disagrees with many decisions adopted by the Syrian leadership but will press for a political process in that country, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“Let me stress once again that we actively support U.N. and LAS Special Envoy Kofi Annan. We think that the Syrian leadership should support his approaches promptly and without delay. We expect the armed and political opposition to do the same,” Lavrov told Vesti v Subbotu (News on Saturday) television programme on Saturday, March 17.

He believes that the process of national reconciliation and then dialogue in Syria can be started only after the country has given its principled consent to the U.N. and LAS special envoy’s efforts.

“We do not support the Syrian government. We support the need to begin a political process. Hostilities must be stopped for that first. Russia will do everything it can for that, notwithstanding the decisions of the Syrian government, with many of which we disagree,” Lavrov said.

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