Brahimi-Lavrov talks: Syria facing choice between 'hell' or political process
Syrian-led talks are the only way to reach peace in Syria, otherwise the country will descend into dire sectarian conflict, UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said following his meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
*Lavrov said there is no way to make Syrian President Bashar Assad shift his firm position of not stepping down from his office. On the other hand, the newly set up Syrian Opposition Coalition has proclaimed in its declaration there would be no dialogue with the current Syrian regime.
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A collection of factors is stalling the [peace] process, but in particular it is an absolutely uncompromising attitude on both parts,” the FM said. “
This refusal to compromise should be overturned. For that, global players who support either party to the conflict should be putting across a unified message: stop the bloodshed and sit to negotiations.”
On Saturday, the head of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, said the group will start talks with Moscow only after Russia “
clearly states they denounce the cruelty of the Syrian regime and says goodbye to Assad.”
At the same time, Lavrov has stated on numerous occasions that Russia will not try to persuade the Syrian President to quit as it is only up to the Syrian people to decide if Assad must go. The veteran Russian diplomat supported Brahimi’s statement, saying that there are still chances for “
a political solution”...