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Middle East and North Africa

Russia hopes Brahimi’s visit to Moscow would promote Syrian settlement

Vitaly Churkin stressed that Russia “resolutely supports” Lkhdar Brahimi’s efforts in the settlement of the Syrian crisis

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

UNITED NATIONS, October 25 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia hopes that a Moscow visit by United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi due on October 29 will promote the Syrian conflict settlement, Russia’s United Nations ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday.

“We are waiting for him in Moscow early next week,” he said. “We hope that the Moscow talks will make it possible for Russia to make another contribution to the settlement of the Syrian crisis.” He stressed that Russia “resolutely supports” Lkhdar Brahimi’s efforts in this area.

On Tuesday, a diplomatic source told Itar-Tass that the United Nations and Arab League envoy will pay a one-day working visit to Moscow on October 29.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council called on Syria’s conflicting parties to accept Lkhdar Brahimi’s plan and agree to a ceasefire during the holiday of Eid al-Adha marked on October 26-29. The United Nations Security Council said the lull must be used to offer help to the Syrians and called on the Syrian authorities to grant humanitarian organizations free access to the population. Lakhdar Brahimi said he hoped to use the lull in fighting to "discuss a longer and more effective ceasefire."

Churkin expressed satisfaction over the United Nations Security Council’s statement which, in his words, is based on a draft offered by the Russian delegation on Monday.

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