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Russian high-ranking diplomat calls for implementing all provisions of Geneva communique

Gennday Gatilov stressed that progress can be achieved only by meeting the interests of both parties
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov EPA/VALENTIN FLAURAUD / POOL
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov
© EPA/VALENTIN FLAURAUD / POOL

MOSCOW, February 14. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said it was necessary to implement all provisions of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012.

At Thursday’s consultations in Geneva with US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman and UN/LAS Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi Gatilov called for complying with all provisions of the Geneva communique, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Friday.

The parties “discussed in detail the pace of the second round of inter-Syrian talks”, the ministry said.

“The participants were unanimous that there was no alternative to the settlement of the conflict in Syria by political and diplomatic means. Gennady Gatilov said Lakhdar Brahimi should continue an unbiased mediation mission and contribute to searching for a common-dominator approach,” the ministry said.

“The difficult and serious crisis in Syria makes us to take a patient and weighty approach towards improving the inter-Syrian dialogue based on the fact that decisions on fundamental issues and the future of the country should be taken by Syrians themselves in terms of mutual accord,” the ministry said.

Russia said, “Progress can be achieved only by meeting the parties’ interests. The dialogue itself should be based on the implementations of all provisions of the Geneva communique”, the ministry said.

On Thursday, February 13, Gatilov conferred with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. “The diplomats discussed the situation at the inter-Syrian talks and confirmed the commitment to settling the crisis in Syria by political and diplomatic means,” the ministry said.

The Russian diplomat “stressed that it was important to continue a dialogue with the opposition in order to implement the Geneva communique”.