List of Syrian participants in Sochi congress to be replenished - Foreign Ministry

KAZAN, November 2. /TASS/. The list of the participants in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress to be held in Sochi is not final and will be replenished, Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, told reporters on Thursday. "Some of those who were not mentioned in this list have expressed the desire to take part, and we will replenish this list," he said. "It is not final yet." Commenting on the statements by members of some opposition groups, including the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), on their refusal to take part in the Congress, Bogdanov noted that Russia hoped all political forces "who care about the fate of the country, its unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty - all Syrian socio-political, ethnic and religious forces" would take part in it. He added that Russia was working with all potential participants. "We have been in touch with all parties. We will continue working," he added when asked whether representatives of the Kurdish parties and movements agreed to take part in the Congress. According to Bogdanov, both the list of the participants and other details of the Congress would be specified. "The list of those invited is not final. Besides, many issues have not been discussed yet, not only with the Syrians but also with some of our external partners. I mean, naturally, the participants in the Astana process and the UN," he said. Read more