US promises to ensure Syrian Opposition’s participation in Geneva-2

The United States has promised that it will persuade the Syrian Opposition to come to the international peace settlement conference (Geneva-2) without preconditions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a “two-plus-two” format meeting of foreign and defense ministers. Lavrov said Russia had complied with its liabilities concerning the Syrian settlement conference Geneva-2. “We have done what he promised. The Syrian government has said that it would send its delegation without any preconditions and comply with the Geneva communique. We expect the Opposition to act likewise,” he said. “John Kerry promised me the Opposition will be persuaded to go to Geneva without any preconditions on the basis of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012,” Lavrov said.