Lavrov: Combating terrorism in Syria becoming more pressing issue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said combating terrorism in Syria is becoming a more pressing issue, pointing out to the massacres committed by terrorist groups like al-Nusra Front. Following a meeting with his Italian counterpart Emma Bonino, Lavrov called on the Syrian government and opposition to unite efforts to expel terrorist from Syria and keep it a pluralistic state. Lavrov said that the meeting paid considerable attention to the Syrian issue underlined the need to implement the Geneva statement issued in June 2012, warning against stalling the holding of the upcoming conference on Syria in Geneva as this would increase civilian victims in Syria, affirming that developments on the ground make holding the conference a very pressing issue. He pointed out that the participation of the Syrian opposition in the Geneva conference is the main obstacle hindering it, noting that after proposing the initiative with the US to hold the conference, Russia worked with the Syrian government which affirmed readiness to send a delegation with full authority to participate in the conference with no preconditions, adding "we're waiting for a similar step from the opposition". Lavrov stressed that Russia has no special interest in supporting specific figures in Syria, and that its interest lies in preventing Syria from becoming a source of terrorism. In turn, Bonino said the two sides affirmed the need for a diplomatic solution for the crisis in Syria and that there can be no military solution for it. She said that they stressed the need to discuss the upcoming Geneva conference, taking into account all details of the crisis in Syria, and she voiced hope that the Syrian opposition will participate in this process. Bogdanov, Ambassador Haddad discuss situation in Syria and the Middle East Special Representative for the Russian President for Middle East Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, discussed with Syria's Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad developments in Syria and the Middle East. The two sides stressed the need to move towards political settlement in Syria on the basis of the Geneva statement issued in June 2012, and by holding the international conference as per the US-Russian initiative launched in May 2013. They also discussed the escalation and massacres committed by the foreign-backed terrorists in Syria.