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Russia exerts effort to convince world community to settle conflict in Syria - Matviyenko

Federation Council chairperson Matviyenko believes the conflict could pose a threat to the whole region and to Russia as well

ST PETERSBURG, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russia exerts all efforts to convince the world community to settle the conflict in Syria by peaceful means in order to prevent the collapse of the country, Federation Council chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a visiting session of the Federation Council, Matviyenko said, “Now the international community should concentrate the efforts to immediately cease violence and the killing of people in order to start talks between the Syrian government and all opposition groups to improve the dialogue and work out the agenda for the future of Syria.”

“Today Russia realises all threats that any other scenario can carry,” she said, adding, “If there is no peaceful settlement, Syria can divide on clan and national principles. Today there is a big danger that these territories can be governed by radical extremists and even terrorist groups.”

Matviyenko said she is sure that this scenario should be prevented because it could pose a threat to the whole region and to Russia as well.

She believes that this will destabilize the situation in the region and violate economic and other relations between Russia and the countries of the region.

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