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MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Keeping status quo in Syria became unacceptable on the background of the growing terrorist threat, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a meeting with representative of Syria’s opposing Cairo II Committee Haitham Manna.
"This is not the first visit of yours, and not the first meeting we have," he said.
"But the difference from the earlier contacts is that we are meeting on the background of the understanding that keeping status quo in Syria and in the region is unacceptable," he said. "It is clear for everyone, even for those who used to doubt the main target is to prevent the terrorist from seizing new territories. A common anti-terror objective is on the foreground now."
The Russian foreign minister reiterated the initiative of President Vladimir Putin calling on all the forces, which do not accept terrorism, to unite in fighting the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and similar groups.
"We believe it necessary to build up efforts to promote political settlement on the basis of the Geneva Communique and activities by the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura ," he said. "Our understanding is that for that among others it is necessary to unite all opposing groups on a constructive platform, concerned about Syria’s future, in order to keep it as a united country, where all ethnic and confessional groups feel protected."
"These days, Russia in close contact with counterparts from Arab countries of the Persian Gulf area, other countries of the region, the US and EU are trying to support uniting of all the Syrian forces to prepare a background for an effective participation of the Syrian opposition in the resumed Geneva process," Lavrov said.
Syrian opposition leader calls to begin preparing Geneva-3 talks
It is necessary to begin preparing the third full-format conference on settlement of the situation in Syria (Geneva-3) in order to unite efforts interested in fighting terrorism, a representative of Syria’s Cairo II Committee Haitham Manaa said during a meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday.
He thanked the Russian foreign minister for the efforts to find a peace solution of the Syrian crisis.
"A military solution cannot bring anything but violence," the Syrian politician said.
"The current situation around fighting terrorism is unfavourable," he said. "It is necessary to begin a process of preparing Geneva-3, and beginning of the process will offer new opportunities to the Syrian people."
A political solution "will be the first step, following which terrorism will begin losing force," he said.