Diplomacy

Time to turn words into deeds in Syria: Russian FM

Xinhua

8 May, 2013

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Implementation of the Geneva Communique on Syria had been dragged out for various reasons, and it was high time to turn words into practical deeds, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

Lavrov said after talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Moscow and Washington "have always been in favor of a political solution, the inadmissibility of Syria's break-up ... This was fixed in Geneva."

The foreign minister said the United States and Russia "do not differ greatly" on the issue.

"We believe that full implementation of the Geneva Communique pre-supposes the establishment of a transitional governing agency. We proceed from the assumption that the agency will exercise full executive power," Lavrov said, adding "we are confident that will be the best and shortest way to settle the Syrian crisis."

Lavrov also warned of continuous humanitarian disasters and a possible regional destabilization if the Syrian government was toppled by force, especially with the help of outside intervention.

Kerry, for his part, said the Geneva Communique should not be treated simply as a piece of paper, but "as a road map to a new Syria without violence."

Kerry proposed holding an international conference on Syria by the end of May that would be attended by representatives of the regime and the opposition.

EU "satisfied" with U.S.-Russia deal on Syria: spokesman

Xinhua

8 May, 2013

BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- An EU spokesman said on Wednesday that the bloc was "very satisfied" with the joint call by the United States and Russia for an international conference on Syria to end the country's escalating crisis.

"The EU would welcome any dialogue that would bring two sides to the negotiating table. The EU has repeated on many occasions that the solution of the conflict lies in a comprehensive political settlement," said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

The EU "stands ready to assist in any way possible and hopes that the conference will be a beginning of a peace process," he said in an email to Xinhua.

Following hours of talks with Russian officials, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that the two had agreed to convene an international conference on Syria that would be attended by representatives of the Syrian regime and the opposition.