Moscow enemy of Syria opposition: SNC chief
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 5, 2015 5:29PM
Head of the so-called Syrian National Coalition says Russia is an enemy of Syrian opposition over Moscow's decision not to invite the foreign-sponsored group to the forthcoming peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition later this month.
'I don't think that anyone in the (Syrian National) Coalition is ready to go to Moscow," Khaled Khoja told reporters during a news conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Monday.
'Russia did not invite us. Some opposition members received invitations," he added.
The 49-year-old Damascus-born businessman emphasized that Moscow is an enemy of the foreign-backed militancy that has plagued Syria for almost four years because Moscow has not invited his foreign-backed coalition to upcoming talks.
On December 25, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, said peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition are set to take place in Moscow sometime after January 20.
The negotiations would see Russian mediation between representatives from the Syrian government, domestic opposition, as well as foreign-based opposition.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has voiced support for Russia's efforts to broker peace in his country.
The last round of the talks between a Syrian government delegation and the opposition were mediated by the United Nations (UN) in the Swiss city of Geneva in February 2014. The talks came to an end without any tangible results.
Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fuelled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to the UN.
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