MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-RUSSIA-ARRIVAL Syrian western-backed opposition leader arrives in Moscow for talks

Record ID: 144149

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-RUSSIA-ARRIVAL Syrian western-backed opposition leader arrives in Moscow for talks
  • Date: 13th August 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 13, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY MANSION SYRIAN OPPOSITION DELEGATION CAR DRIVING IN MANSION ENTRANCE LEADER OF WESTERN-BACKED SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION, KHALED KHOJA, AND OTHER SYRIAN DELEGATION MEMBERS GETTING OUT OF CAR, ENTERING BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1G62Y6K2Z6TOG5IQ67G6J806J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The leader of the western-backed Syrian National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, arrived on Thursday (August 13) at the Russian foreign ministry mansion in the centre of Moscow for talks.
    The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNC) boycotted Syria peace talks held in Moscow in January and April, distrustful of Russia and critical of the Damascus rivals who attended, whom it described as token opposition.
    The SNC's Moscow visit comes as international and regional players seek a response to the growing threat of Islamic State in the Syria conflict, which has killed some 250,000 people over the last four-and-a-half years.
    A Russian source familiar with preparations for the visit said they were due to meet Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his deputy and President Vladimir Putin's special Middle East envoy, Mikhail Bogdanov, and Vitaly Naumkin, a Russian academic who served as moderator during two rounds of Syria peace talks in Moscow in January and April.
    The January and April talks failed to yield any breakthroughs.
    The source said the Russians will want to discuss with the SNC holding another round of Moscow consultations and will push the group to commit to taking part in those talks.
    Lavrov said after recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Washington, which backs the Syrian opposition, and Moscow have not been able to overcome their differences and agree on how to fight Islamic State together.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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