This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/world/middleeast/syria-to-join-russian-talks.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria to Discuss Russia Peace Plan Talks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria said Saturday that it was willing to participate in “preliminary consultations” in Russia aimed at restarting peace talks next year to end its civil war. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria said Saturday that it was willing to participate in “preliminary consultations” in Russia aimed at restarting peace talks next year to end its civil war. |
| But members of the Western-backed Syrian opposition dismissed the Russian plan on Saturday, saying there was “no initiative.” | But members of the Western-backed Syrian opposition dismissed the Russian plan on Saturday, saying there was “no initiative.” |
| Syrian state television quoted an official at the Foreign Ministry as saying that “Syria is ready to participate in preliminary consultations in Moscow in order to meet the aspirations of Syrians to find a way out of crisis.” | Syrian state television quoted an official at the Foreign Ministry as saying that “Syria is ready to participate in preliminary consultations in Moscow in order to meet the aspirations of Syrians to find a way out of crisis.” |
| Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov said this month that he wanted Syrian opposition groups to agree among themselves on a common approach before setting up direct talks with the Syrian government, which is backed by Moscow. | Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov said this month that he wanted Syrian opposition groups to agree among themselves on a common approach before setting up direct talks with the Syrian government, which is backed by Moscow. |
| But Mr. Lavrov did not specify which opposition groups should take part. Some opposition groups are tolerated by the government but shunned by the opposition in exile. | But Mr. Lavrov did not specify which opposition groups should take part. Some opposition groups are tolerated by the government but shunned by the opposition in exile. |
| On Saturday, Hadi al-Bahra, president of the Turkey-based opposition National Coalition, said, “Russia does not have a clear initiative, and what is called for by Russia is just a meeting and dialogue in Moscow, with no specific paper or initiative,” according to the Egyptian state news agency MENA. | On Saturday, Hadi al-Bahra, president of the Turkey-based opposition National Coalition, said, “Russia does not have a clear initiative, and what is called for by Russia is just a meeting and dialogue in Moscow, with no specific paper or initiative,” according to the Egyptian state news agency MENA. |