March 6, 2013 (TSR) – Russian Foreign Ministry source announced on Tuesday that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Michael Bogdanov, and US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns, will discuss in London on Thursday the developments of the crisis in Syria.
The source added that “There is an initial agreement to hold this meeting,” pointing out that “Bogdanov will also take part on Thursday in the Meeting of Friends of Yemen”.
The source indicated that a US delegation headed by Burns will attended the meeting, and that the American side expressed keenness on such meeting.
The source didn’t excluded that Bogdanov might hold contacts in London with the UN envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi.
Churkin: New Round of Russian-American Consultations on Syria
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said that a new round of consultations between his country and the US on the crisis in Syria could be held next week.
In a press conference on Monday, Churkin expressed concern over Washington’s latest decision with regard to supporting the Syrian opposition with USD 60 million.
He indicated that Washington’s decision “Take us away from the road which leads to holding dialogue between the government and the opposition.”
He stressed that the meeting, which will be in one of the European countries, will be held between the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Michael Bogdanov, and his US counterpart ,William Burns.
“We are ready to continue contacts with the US regarding the situation in Syria and I think that another meeting between Bogdanov and Burns will be held in Europe,” Churkin said.
He asserted that there are big differences in the viewpoints of Russia and the US concerning the way of getting out of the crisis in Syria.
Zasypkin: Foreign Powers Seek to Foil Attempts to Halt Violence in Syria
Russian Ambassador in Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, stressed on Tuesday that foreign powers are seeking to foil attempts aimed at halting violence to curb dialogue which was called for by the Syrian leadership.
After a meeting with Leader of the Marada Movement, MP Suleiman Frangieh, Ambassador Zasypkin said that the Syrian leadership is ready for dialogue and “We are witnessing developments towards dialogue from the opposition; however, foreign powers are seeking to foil attempts to halt violence,” calling for political settlement in Syria and combating terrorists.
He emphasized the necessity of disallowing smuggling of weapons and fighters into Syria to avoid sedition in Lebanon and the region at large.
The Ambassador criticized the decisions made during the Roma Meeting as they will not serve the political resolution in Syria, pointing out that Russia will continue working with all sides and will encourage the Syrian opposition abroad to go to dialogue with the Syrian leadership.
First published in SANA.
