China supports Iran's participation in Syria talks

China on Thursday expressed support for Iran's participation in peace talks on the Syria issue, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. "Proper 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," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press briefing in Beijing, according to the report. On Monday, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US might agree with Iran's participation in a potential Geneva II talks over Syria if Tehran backs the "Geneva I Communique" which called for a transitional government in Syria. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Tuesday that Iran will not accept any pre-conditions for attending peace talks on Syria. "If our presence will help find a solution, setting pre-conditions for inviting Iran to the talks is not acceptable, and we do not accept any conditions," Afkham was quoted as saying by Iran's official IRNA news agency. Hua reiterated that a political resolution is the only way out for the Syria issue. China hopes parties concerned will seize opportunities, make joint efforts to convene the Geneva II talks and start the dialogue and political resolution process at an early date, in a bid to properly resolve the Syria issue, she said. The US and other Western countries have accused Iran of supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war and said Iran is part of the problem. Geneva II talks were suggested by Russia and the US in an attempt to develop mechanisms for implementing earlier agreements. (end) mk.mt KUNA 101928 Oct 13NNNN