Lavrov warns of efforts to thwart the path of Astana for the Syrian settlement
Moscow has called on the United Nations not to be dragged behind the efforts of some actors to block this path in the days before the new round of Astana negotiations on Syria,
Lavrov told during a news conference with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Moscow on Wednesday: "We call for adherence to the basic principle adopted by the Syrian national dialogue conference in Sochi in January 2018. It provides for the formation of the Syrian constitutional committee by themselves, and the role of the United Nations of a mediator, helping to organize and initiate substantive dialogue. "
"Therefore, I told our colleagues in the presidency of the United Nations our urgent call to deal with independence and adherence to Security Council resolution 2254 and not to be dragged behind those who seek to marginalize and undermine the process of Astana."
Lavrov stressed the need to form the Syrian Constitutional Commission as soon as possible, pointing out that the situation on the ground in Syria does not prevent this, although some problems, especially those related to the situation in Idlib and the north-east of the country, are still waiting for a solution.
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