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Opposition leader says Geneva-II only way to settle Syrian crisis

13 November 2013 19:26 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The planned international conference on Syria, Geneva-II, was the only way to settle conflicts in that country, a Syrian moderate opposition leader said Wednesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The international community decided to convene Geneva-II because there is no room for fantasies and illusions. If it is not held, the situation will not be solved," head of the Syrian Popular Front for Changes and Liberation Qadri Jamil told reporters here.

The former Syrian Deputy Prime Minister criticized some opposition leaders for attempts to undermine the conference.

"According to my research, the Geneva-II has been undermined by the unacceptable preconditions put by Syrian opposition," he said, adding the Istanbul-based National Coalition had decided to participate in the conference.

He said 90 percent of the Syrian population did not belong to either the opposition or pro-government side, but "only want to live in peace."

Also on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the parties to hold the conference as soon as possible.

"Every day of delay implies death and suffering of many people. This is why it is so important to seat at the negotiation table in Geneva the confronting sides," Lavrov said in Egypt.