Syria’s opposition to discuss in Moscow its chairing role in Geneva format

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Syria’s opposition at consultations in Moscow wants to raise the issue of its chairing role in the Geneva format, head of the Popular Front for Change and Liberation Qadri Jamil told TASS on Saturday. "We shall take part in the consultations in Moscow on April 6-9, like we did earlier," he said. Commenting on the agenda, Jamil said it had been agreed with all the participating parties. "The main items we initiated have been included in the agenda of the first meeting," he said. "However, there is an outstanding issue about the form of the opposition’s participation in the Geneva talks," he said. "Till now it has been the monopoly of the National Coalition. We believe it one of the reasons Geneva-2 failed." The politician insists on pluralism in representation of official Damascus’ opponents. This issue should be on the agenda of the Moscow consultations, too, he said. The authorities of Syria have confirmed their participation in the intra-Syrian talks, to be held in Russia’s capital city of Moscow on April 6-9, Alexander Lukashevich, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday. "We have mailed several dozen of invitations to the [Syrian[ opposition organizations and groups," Lukashevich said. "Damascus will send its governmental delegation as the Syrian authorities confirmed their participation." He added that one of the most important developments in Syria ahead of the consultations in Moscow was the recently announced amnesty, which saw some 700 people freed from prisons. Read more