(VOVworld) – The Syrian opposition’s impedance of the Iranian government’s participation in the Geneva II Conference was “inappropriate”, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday. He also said 40 countries were invited to the conference and Iran’s absence from the conference would make it “a sham”. He asked the Syrian opposition supporting countries to show goodwill to match the Syrian government’s unconditional willingness to negotiate. The aim of the Geneva II Conference is to gather all parties concerned with finding a solution to the Syrian conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Photo: Telegraph)

China called on all sides to participate in the conference “constructively” and to follow comprehensively “the Geneva I Communiqué”.
A US diplomat said Washington was discussing with the UN the UN General Secretary’s “surprise” invitation to Iran and had expressed a desire that the invitation be withdrawn. The diplomat said Iran does not respect the agreement’s Geneva I call for the establishment of a Syrian transitional government.