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Syrian opposition urges RF to be guarantor in dialogue on country’s future

The Syrian delegation said the dialogue with the participation of all sides could start after the Kofi Annan plan was implemented

MOSCOW, April 18 (Itar-Tass) — A delegation of the opposition Syrian Coordination Committee has put forth an initiative for Russia to be a guarantor in a national dialogue on the future of Syria.

Meeting representatives of the Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, the Syrian delegation said the dialogue with the participation of all sides could start after the Kofi Annan plan was implemented.

Due to the fact that the opposition “lost trust in power, the international community should give guarantees in order to start such talks”, according to the Syrian opposition delegation.

Russian senators said they were ready to help reach national consensus in Syria within any formats. “We reiterated that we were ready to be observers and participants in any events on the Syrian land that can facilitate national consensus and start a national dialogue,” Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mikhail Margelov stressed.

He recalled that in recent times the Federation Council had held meetings with several delegations of the Syrian opposition and emissaries of the Syrian authorities. “Our delegations also made visits to Syria. The latest visit took place in March,” Margelov noted.

He assured Syrian officials that Russia “has only the unique friend in Syria – the Syrian people. We believe that only the Syrian people has right to decide their problems without any foreign interference. That is why we are ready to provide our friendly support for those who favour the settlement of the Syrian crisis on the national basis”.

In addition, the Russian and Syrian delegations also focused on a possibility of convening a conference of the Syrian opposition, which favours a dialogue with the government. “This idea is being finalised now. Russia supports such format. We are ready to take part in the conference as an observer,” the ministry said.

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