Russia criticizes U.S. refusal to partake in Syrian talks in Sochi
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Monday slammed the United States for its refusal to participate in the 10th round of international talks on Syria in Russia's Sochi.
Moscow invited Washington to the Syrian talks in the Astana format on Monday and Tuesday as an observer, but the U.S. side declined it, Zakharova said in a statement on the foreign ministry's website.
"This response is regrettable, keeping in mind that Washington constantly gives assurances that it is willing to help the political process take place in Syria," she said.
"We see the U.S. reluctance to send representatives to Sochi as a desire to lower the importance of the Astana format and discredit the implementation of the mediatory efforts in Syrian affairs that Washington is unable to put under its control," she added.
According to Zakharova, the Astana process is in no way an alternative to the UN-sponsored Geneva talks.
She said the U.S. call to prioritize the Geneva process "looks disingenuous" as UN secretary-general's special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is taking part in the Sochi event.
In parallel to the Geneva process, nine rounds of Syrian talks had been held in the Kazakh capital of Astana since January 2017, with Russia, Turkey and Iran as the mediators.
The negotiations moved from Astana to Russia's Sochi for the first time. The most significant outcome of previous talks was the establishment of four de-escalation zones in Syria.
Your Comment
Name E-mailRelated News
-
-
Russian FM says Putin-Trump summit to discuss Syria-related issues
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Wednesday that Syria-related issues are likely to be discussed at the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, according to local reports.
-
-
Lavrov, Pompeo discuss schedule of Russia-U.S. political contacts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday discussed in a telephone conversation the schedule of political contacts between Moscow and Washington.
-
-
Russia launches Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft with int'l crew to ISS
Russia on Wednesday successfully launched its Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft carrying three crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), the Russian State Corporation Roscosmos said.
-
-
Putin signs counter-sanctions bill into law
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed into law a bill on counter-sanctions in response to "unfriendly actions" of the United States and other foreign countries, the Russian government said.
-
-
Trump says ready to meet with Iranian president without preconditions
U.S. President Donald Trump said here on Monday that he is ready to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani without preconditions.