MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-RUSSIA-TALKS Russia's Lavrov urges Syrian opposition to unite

Record ID: 144031

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-RUSSIA-TALKS Russia's Lavrov urges Syrian opposition to unite
  • Date: 14th August 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 14, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING SYRIAN DELEGATION WAITING FOR MEETING LEADER OF SYRIAN OPPOSITION GROUP CAIRO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, HAYTHAM MANNA, WAITING MEDIA RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, ENTERING ROOM, SHAKING HANDS WITH SYRIAN DELEGATION MEDIA MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN M
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEXQLJEAVBA5WGG5KVPS6LG45D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged all Syrian opposition groups on Friday (August 14) to unite in order to fight terrorism in the region.
    "Among other things, it is necessary to help unification of all the opposition groups, on constructive basis, on the basis formed first of all by the concern about the future of Syria, about saving it as an integral state, in which all the ethnic and religious groups feel protected," Lavrov said at a meeting with the leader of a new Syrian opposition group Cairo Conference Committee, Haytham Manna, in Moscow.
    The committee which is the internal opposition's main umbrella group, was founded in 2011 and is seen by the rebels as little more than a front for Assad.
    Russian foreign minister stressed that the situation in the Middle East in general and in Syria in particular has deteriorated in the recent months.
    "Today in contrast with our previous contacts, we are holding this meeting with the growing understanding that it is impossible to maintain the status quo in the region, and particularly in Syria," he said.
    Haytham Manna said the current situation in the country complicates fight against terrorism.
    "We also think that the current situation cannot be considered favourable for the continuation of the fight against terrorism," said the opposition group leader.
    Two rounds of previous talks on the settlement of the Syrian crisis held in Geneva failed to find a solution to the conflict, in which 250,000 people died over the past four-and-a-half years.
    Manna's visit to Moscow coincided with the arrival of the leader of the western-backed Syrian National Coalition opposition group Khaled Khoja, who held talks with Lavrov the day earlier.
    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed options for a political solution to the Syria conflict with his Russian counterpart in a phone call on Thursday (August 13), the State Department said.
    The statement in Moscow said the two ministers discussed bringing various Syrian opposition groups together with the aim of working out their joint position for eventual talks with Damascus under the U.N. auspices.
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