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Middle East and North Africa

Syrian opposition praises Russia’s efforts to contribute to Syrian settlement

Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the results of the Geneva meeting

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - The Syrian opposition praises Russia’s consistent efforts aimed at fulfilling the obligations in compliance with the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012 and starting the talks as soon as possible with due account for the rights and interests of all citizens, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The ministry commented on the results of the Geneva meeting between Russian presidential special envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bodganov and representatives of the Syrian opposition.

On Tuesday, June 25, Bodganov conferred with one of the leaders of the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, Heisam al-Manaa; head of the Democratic Union Party Saleh Mohammed; and leader of the United National Alliance, former Syrian vice-president Rifaat al-Assad, the ministry said.

“The parties exchanged views on the situation in Syria with the focus on preparations for the international conference in accordance with the Russian-American initiative of May 7, 2013,” the ministry said.

“The parties stressed the need to launch the political settlement in Syria without any precondition through an inter-Syrian dialogue with the participation of representatives of major political and ethno-confessional groups,” the ministry said.

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