Russia has rejected the opposition of certain countries to Iran’s participation in the Geneva II conference, describing Tehran as an important regional player that can contribute to the settlement of the crisis in Syria.
“We find such an approach (opposition to Iran’s participation) absolutely unacceptable,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov.

He stressed that all players that can contribute to the settlement of the ongoing crisis in the Arab country should attend the international conference.
“We, on our own part, like Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, from the very start have spoken for Iran’s participation in the peace conference on Syria considering that it is an important regional player and it can play an important constructive role in looking for ways of settling the Syrian conflict,” the Russian deputy foreign minister added.
On May 7, Russia and the US agreed in the Russian capital of Moscow to convene an international conference on Syria, which will serve as a follow-up to an earlier Geneva meeting held in June 2012.

The event has been delayed for months, but Moscow and Washington are now trying to fix a date for it in November.

Iran has said that it is ready to take part in the planned Geneva II conference on the Syrian crisis “if invited without any preconditions.”

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Reports indicate that the Western powers and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants operating inside the country.

By Press TV

 

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