Russia and China have both urged the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the forthcoming Geneva 2 conference on the ongoing crisis in Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Western countries are on the right track regarding their attitude to Iran’s participation in the peace talks on the Syrian issue.
“Recently, strange arguments against Iran’s participation have been replaced by a more realistic approach,” Lavrov told reporters in Moscow following talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah.
Some Western countries opposed Iran’s participation in the Geneva 2 conference on the grounds that Tehran did not support the Geneva communiqué in June 2012, which envisaged a process for a Syrian-led transition.
“This argument has never been good at all, because many countries in the region, whose participation in the conference has never been questioned by the Western colleagues, work directly to undermine the Geneva 2,” the Russian foreign minister stated.
On Thursday, China expressed support for Iran’s participation in the upcoming conference on Syria.
œProper resolution of the Syria issue will be impossible without the participation and support of regional countries, especially countries with leverage over concerned parties in Syria,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference in response to a question about Iran™s role in diplomatic negotiations on Syria.
She also reasserted China™s position that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved politically.
œChina hopes parties concerned will seize opportunities, make joint efforts to convene the Geneva 2 talks and start the dialogue and political resolution process at an early date in a bid to properly resolve the Syria issue”, Hua pointed out.
On September 29, UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi stated that it would be beneficial if Iran takes part in the Geneva 2 conference and there is the possibility of inviting the Islamic Republic.
On August 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov described Iran as an important regional player that can greatly contribute to the settlement of the Syrian conflict, voicing Moscow™s eagerness for Iran™s participation in the conference.
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.
According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others displaced in the violence.
MP/MHB
Copyright: Press TV