A senior Iranian official says Russia and China will participate in the upcoming Friends of Syria meeting slated to be held in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

“Representatives from Russia and China will attend the international Syria conference in Tehran due to be held on May 29 under the banner of ‘Political Solution, Regional Stability,’” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday.

The event will be a step toward the realization of a political solution based on ending the violence and holding national dialog in the crisis-stricken country, he said.


“Tehran has invited different countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have other positions on the crisis in Syria, and welcomes them aboard when it comes to regional cooperation,” the Iranian official pointed out.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.

Since the outset of crisis in Syria, Iran has always emphasized that violence should be stopped and no weapons and terrorists should be sent to the country in order to find a solution to the issue, Amir-Abdollahian said.

In that case, Syrian-Syrian talks will prepare the ground for nationwide elections and the establishment of the government, he noted.

Iran has repeatedly voiced its opposition to any foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs, calling for inclusive dialog and national reconciliation as well as free elections as the keys to the settlement of the crisis in the country.

Tehran held two meetings on Syria and has been an active member of a contact group, proposed by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2012, comprising Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Iran hosted a two-day meeting attended by the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition groups in November 2012, with the participants unanimously opposing foreign interference and calling for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Arab country.

Also, a day-long international consultative meeting on Syria was also held in Tehran in August 2012, where the participants underlined the need for the resolution of the unrest in the Arab country based on international regulations, non-interference and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.


HK