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Extremist moods prevail in Syrian opposition: Lavrov

“We will speak about this with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Berlin today,” he added

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, February 26 (Itar-Tass) – “Extremist moods” prevail among the Syrian opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

“Extremists are aimed at a military solution of the Syrian problem and block initiatives leading to the start of a dialogue,” the Russian diplomat said.

“The situation in Syria remains difficult, and bloodshed continues,” he noted. “Several days ago it seemed to us that the parties were ready for a dialogue without preconditions, but then these statements were refuted. Extremists have prevailed at this stage,” he said.

“But we are not loosing heart,” Lavrov continued. “Of course we cannot solve this problem without Syrians themselves, but in contacts with outside players we feel a growing concern, a growing understanding of a need to influence both the government and the opposition,” he said.

“We will speak about this with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Berlin today,” Lavrov added.

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