RUSSIA: Syrian opposition delegation in Moscow for talks say they want a resolution to the crisis without outside military intervention

Record ID: 280059

  • Title: RUSSIA: Syrian opposition delegation in Moscow for talks say they want a resolution to the crisis without outside military intervention
  • Date: 16th November 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING (3 SHOTS) SYRIAN OPPOSITION DELEGATION ARRIVING FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN BURHAN GHALIOUN SAYING AS HE WALKS TOWARDS ENTRANCE OF FOREIGN MINISTRY : "We do not reject dialogue. We reject di
  • Embargoed: 1st December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC3VSGJCO5K0ZY0JH7QN185QB4
  • Story Text: A Syrian opposition delegation held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday (November 15).
    The delegation led by Syrian National Council head Burhan Ghalioun arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry in central Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
    "We do not reject dialogue. We reject dialogue with those who kill our people. But we are willing to negotiate with others in order to reach a negotiated solution to the Syrian crisis, and we are here to reach this solution," said Syrian National Council head Burhan Ghalioun.
    "We are willing to conduct dialogue with those elements of the regime whose hands are not tainted with blood. We have already said that we do not reject this. On the contrary, we want to negotiate on the peaceful transfer of power in order to avoid the dangers of military intervention and civil war. Our arrival in Russia, and our meeting with the Foreign Minister, is intended to formulate a negotiated plan and to avoid civil war and military intervention," he added.
    Russia called on opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday to hold talks with the government to try to end violence in the Middle East nation.
    Diplomats from the Russian Foreign Ministry in meetings with the delegation urged 'all Syrian opposition groups that reject violence as a means to achieve politicalto immediately join in the realisation of the Arab League initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria through the launch of dialogue between the Syrian authorities and the opposition.' Last month Russia joined China in a double veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Syria's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, and has accused the West of discouraging dialogue between Assad and opponents.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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