Russia: Parties to Riyadh Syria talks no representative of entire opposition
Russia has censured a recent meeting of the so-called opposition groups of Syria in Saudi Arabia, saying the parties do not represent “the entire Syrian opposition.”
“We cannot accept the attempt by the group which met in Riyadh to assign itself the right to speak on behalf of the entire Syrian opposition,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The meeting in the Saudi capital is seen as an attempt to put together a united front against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The final statement of the meeting called for the removal of Assad from power right at the start of a “transitional period” in Syria. Russia has repeatedly dismissed such demands.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the “fate of Assad should be discussed by Syrians themselves.”
“Now efforts are focused on drawing up the lists of who to recognize as terrorist organizations, who to consider moderate opposition which can and should be part of the political settlement... Disagreements among certain countries exist. Positions are getting closer,” the Russian official said at a press conference in Moscow.
Iran has also said that it does not recognize the meeting in Riyadh as it was held outside the framework of an agreement reached during recent international talks on Syria.
Two rounds of international talks on the conflict in Syria were held in the Austrian capital on October 30 and November 14.
'Real, patriotic opposition' can engage in Syria talks
President Assad said in an interview with the Spanish EFE news agency published on Friday that Damascus is in principle ready to engage in talks with the opponents, but such talks should involve “the real, patriotic, national opposition that has grassroots in Syria,” and not those related to any other state or regime in the world.
Damascus would not negotiate with terrorists, the Syrian president said.
“So far, we’ve been seeing that some countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, and some Western countries wanted the terrorist groups to join these negotiations. They want the Syrian government to negotiate with the terrorists, something I don’t think anyone would accept in any country,” Assad stated.
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