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Conflict in Syria

Russian diplomat, Syrian delegation discuss prospects for promoting inter-Syrian dialogue

Russia confirmed the proposal to the Syrian government and the opposition for holding contacts in Moscow as the step towards stepping up the political settlement in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov

© ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

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Russia facilitates improvement of contacts between Syrian government, opposition — ForMin

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed prospects for promoting the inter-Syrian dialogue on the basis of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012 with the Syrian delegation on Tuesday.

“Russia confirmed the proposal to the Syrian government and the opposition for holding contacts in Moscow as the step towards stepping up the political settlement in Syria,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“The parties provided support for the peacemaking efforts by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, including an idea on the so-called ‘local freeze’,” the ministry said.

Bogdanov also discussed the Syrian settlement with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad. “During the talk, they exchanged views on the development of the situation in Syria and in the entire region. Russia confirmed the principled position on the inadmissibility of external interference into the Syrian affairs and on the support of a broad inter-Syrian dialogue without preconditions in order to reach national accord,” the ministry said.

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