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Damascus delegation arrives in Geneva with constructive instructions - Russian envoy

The Syrians are emphasizing justly that the negotiations are not beginning but are continued, Alexey Borodavkin said

GENEVA, February 23. /TASS/. Damascus delegation has arrived in Geneva having constructive instructions, with the objective to reach progress, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Alexey Borodavkin said on Thursday.

"Yesterday, I had a meeting with leader of the Syrian governmental delegation Bashar Jaafari; the contact, like always, was friendly, it was a conversation of like-minded people," the Russian diplomat said. "I would like to stress with satisfaction that the delegation of the Syrian government has arrived in Geneva having constructive instructions, with the objective to reach progress."

"The Syrians are emphasizing justly that the negotiations are not beginning but are continued," he said.

"The position is constructive but in contrast to what we can hear from opposition representatives arriving from Riyadh, who again put forward, as a prior condition, an absurd demand on immediate resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad," Borodavkin said. "It is not the basis for talks.".