Bogdanov: Intra-Syrian dialogue may be held early October

Moscow, SANA – The Russian President’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that the Intra-Syrian dialogue may be held in early October.

In a statement to the Russian Novosti Agency, Bogdanov said that the dialogue may probably take place at the very beginning of October, adding that the UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura should invite all the parties.

The last round of Geneva talks was suspended on April 27th without results.

On the Russian-US agreement, Bogdanov said that accord’s terms do not mean the imposition of no-fly zone in Syria.

Last Friday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his US counterpart John Kerry announced reaching a deal to enhance the cessation of hostilities in Syria that would begin on Sunday midnight. The agreement also provide for separating terrorists from the so-called “opposition”, designating the areas where the armed terrorists will be targeted only by the Russian and the US air forces, establishing a joint Russian-US coordination center to coordinate air attacks against terrorists and resuming political process to solve the crisis in Syria.

Zasypkin: Russian-US agreement helps reach political solution to crisis in Syria

Beirut, SANA – Russia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin on Monday reiterated his country’s adherence to restore security and stability to Syria, preserve its territorial unity and eradicate terrorism.

In an interview with the Lebanese al-Manar TV, Zasypkin said that the Russian-U.S. agreement on Syria helps reacha political settlement to the crisis, noting that the public atmosphere is positive and encouraging.

He added that the agreement should be balanced, help reach political settlement and serve the interests of the Syrian people only, adding that “We have our own agenda which stresses the need to reach a Syrian solution through national dialogue,” adding that the cessation of hostilities is the first step towards reaching this goal, in addition to combating terrorism and delivering humanitarian aid.

R. Raslan / Ghossoun