MOSCOW, October 15 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday he did not rule out that a new meeting among representatives of Russia, the United Nations and the United States to discuss preparation for a peace conference dubbed as Geneva II will take place soon.
“We have already had a meeting in such a format,” he said in reply to the question whether the Russian diplomats would meet with their UN and US counterparts to discuss Geneva II. “I do not rule out that such a meeting in the same format will be needed. The dates have not been finalized yet.”
Gatilov confirmed that preparations for an international peace conference on Syria due in November were underway. “All of us are now working in this direction,” he said.
“The UN Secretary-General’s envoy will soon start a tour of countries in the region to meet representatives of the opposition. He will have talks in Damascus, too,” he said, adding that the talks would focus on an international peace conference.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that the Syrian authorities expressed their readiness to take part in the conference long ago. “Regrettably, some opposition groups announce their refusal to participate in the conference,” he said.