Moscow urges participants of Syrian talks not to "fan tensions"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday called on participants of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva to avoid making radical statements.

"We urge everyone to avoid fanning tensions and confrontation in media space, and to sit down at the negotiating table honestly in search of an agreement," Lavrov said at a live press conference with the visiting Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui.

"Any radical approaches, ultimatums or attempts to determine the outcome of the intra-Syrian dialogue do not help to create an atmosphere needed for reaching an accord," Lavrov said.

Media reported recently that Syrian opposition groups intended to create a transitional government without the participation of the country's President Bashar al-Assad.

In regard to such claims, Lavrov said that political settlement in Syria must take into account the interests of the whole spectrum of the country's political forces, while the final results of this process should be based on the mutual consent of the government of Syria and all opposition parties.

According to Lavrov, "the statements that someone will be excluded from political process contradict the position of the UN Security Council."

Meanwhile, Lavrov expressed Russia's readiness to support any agreement reached on Syria's future state system between the government and all the opposition groups.

The new round of reconciliation talks between the Syrian government and opposition in Geneva is scheduled on March 14-24.

The previous round of talks ended last month with no tangible results, but intensified international efforts have managed to establish a cessation of hostilities in Syria, which started from midnight of Feb. 26. Endi