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Syrian opposition meets Russian, US leaders
Published: 3 Feb 13 09:48 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130203-47725.html
Ground-breaking talks between the Russian foreign minister and the Syrian opposition leader at a security conference in Munich have bolstered a global push to narrow sharp differences over how to end the conflict in Syria.
- Syrian opposition calls for help in Munich - National (2 Feb 13)
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"I reminded Khatib that after the creation of the coalition and the appointment of their leader, we immediately demonstrated our interest in maintaining regular contact," Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying after the meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
"We will make that happen," he added.
Lavrov had earlier Saturday held talks with US Vice President Joe Biden and UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi amid strong disagreement between Moscow and Washington about ways to end the 22-month Syria conflict, which according to the United Nations has claimed upwards of 60,000 lives.
Khatib, who became the head of the coalition late last year, reiterated on the opening day of the Munich talks Friday an earlier surprise announcement that his group is ready for dialogue with the Damascus regime - subject to conditions including the release of 160,000 detainees.
Lavrov said Moscow welcomed the initiative, adding: "If we take into account the fact that the coalition was founded on a refusal to engage in a dialogue with the regime, it's a very important step."
Biden, in his meeting with Lavrov, called on Washington and Moscow to put aside "serious differences" and stressed the need for US-Russian cooperation, including over Syria, the White House said.
Moscow's engagement with the Syrian opposition comes just days after Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev took the rare step of criticizing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad made a "grave, perhaps fatal error" in not reaching out more quickly to the Syrian opposition "which was ready to sit at the negotiating table with him," Russian news agencies quoted Medvedev as saying on Sunday last week.
"It seems to me that his chances of staying (in power) are shrinking day by day," Medvedev told CNN television.
Biden also met Khatib and Brahimi in Munich on Saturday.
He "urged Khatib to continue his efforts to maintain unity among the SOC (Syrian Opposition Coalition) leadership, to isolate extremist elements within the broader opposition, and to reach out to, and be inclusive of, a broad range of communities inside Syria, including Alawites, Christians and Kurds," according to a White House statement.
Earlier the US vice president insisted Assad was a "tyrant" and must go.
AFP/mw
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