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Conflict in Syria

Moscow to support any system in Syria that is approved by Syrians — Russian diplomat

"We only underscore one key thought: the Syrians themselves should solve all these issues between themselves," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov says

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

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GENEVA, April 15. /TASS/. Moscow will support any political system in Syria that will be forged as a result of agreements between the government and the opposition and approved by the Syrians, Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and North Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS on Friday.

"We only underscore one key thought: the Syrians themselves should solve all these issues between themselves. Russia is not a party to the conflict, we cannot impose decisions or work them out instead of the Syrians," Bogdanov said.

"The Syrian opposition should gather at the negotiating table in full strength to discuss all these issues and work out a common stance. And we will support what suits them," the high-ranking diplomat said.

Participants in the Geneva intra-Syrian talks presented a number of proposals on Syria’s political system in the transitional period to United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.

Thus, a representative of the Cairo group of the opposition, Jihad Makdissi, said that a transitional body for the settlement of the situation in Syria should include five components.

According to the Moscow-Cairo opposition group, these components are a transitional national council, a transitional government, a supreme council for justice, a national military council and a supreme reconciliation commission.

Other opposition groups however have not announced details of their plans for the country’s future system.

The second round of intra-Syrian talks started on April 13

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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