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Conflict in Syria

Lavrov says reasons for opposition’s non-participation in Astana talks unconvincing

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. The reasons for the Syrian armed opposition’s non-participation in the current Astana meeting are not convincing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We have been assessing the latest news together with the Defense Ministry. We believe that the reasons preventing the armed opposition from taking part in the new Astana meeting, that were mentioned in the media, are not convincing," the top diplomat said.

Sergey Lavrov added that he discussed the matter over the phone with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu:

"We are sorting out what has happened to the position of the armed opposition. Yesterday I spoke with my counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu," Lavrov said. "We have grounds to believe that there is some misunderstanding."

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