Al-Hayat: Mikdad had traveled to Moscow to convey Syria’s ‘conservations on Librahimi’s plan.
28-12-2012 — Al-Hayat Newspaper learned that Mikdad had traveled to Moscow to convey Syria’s ‘conservations on a number of the points in Librahimi’s plan.”
According to a Russian diplomat who is informed of the conents of Mikdad’s visit, Mikdad told the Russians that his government “does not wholly comply with the content of the plan.” Mikdad said that “his government will announce its position son.”
The diplomatic source added that Lavrov told Mikdad that Moscow “prefers to wait until it hears the details of Librahimi plan from him” in person.
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Mikdad, Lavrov Discuss Syria, Emphasize Peaceful Solution to Crisis
SANA — Dec 27, 2012 —
Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad underlined the importance of putting an end to violence and terrorism, and reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria according to Geneva statement.
During his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, Dr. Mikdad praised the profound Syrian-Russian relations, and stressed the importance of stopping foreign meddling in the Syrian affairs and that some countries in the region and abroad refrain from backing, training and funding the terrorist groups.
Dr. Mikdad also stressed the necessity that the solution be Syrian and led by Syria.
For his part, the Russian FM reiterated Russia's support to a peaceful solution in Syria and renewed Russia's known position on Geneva statement, affirming that there is no change in the Russian stance on Syria.
Russian Foreign Ministry: No Russian-US Plan to Settle the Situation in Syria
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, said there is no Russian-US plan to settle the situation in Syria, pointing out that Moscow just rely on the Geneva Agreement.
Lukashevich, at a press conference on Thursday, dismissed the existence of such a plan as it is not under discussion, noting that the Russian side will discuss with the UN envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, and Washington a general plan of action was adopted in Geneva last Jun 30.
"Moscow considers Geneva Statement as irreplaceable basis for settling the situation in Syria, " Russia Today Channel quoted Lukashevich as saying at the conference.
The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson renewed his county's rejection of the use of force to solve the crisis in Syria, saying that the only way for "putting an end to the Syrians' suffering" passes through dialogue and talks.
He pointed out that Russia is exerting efforts to help the Syrians determine the future of their country on their own.
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Envoy calls for transitional government in Syria
AP — 27/12/2012 — The international envoy charged with pushing to end Syria's civil war called on Thursday for the formation of a transitional government with "full executive powers" to run the country until new elections can be held.
Lakhdar Brahimi is apparently seeking to revive a peace plan launched by world powers in Geneva in June that never took off because neither side was interested in carrying it out.
The original Geneva plan called for the establishment of a national unity government with full executive powers that could include members of Assad's government, the opposition and other groups. It was to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and elections.
Because of Russian objections, that plan did not call specifically for Assad's ouster, nor did it ban him from participation in the new government — making it a non-starter with the opposition.
"The Syrian people seek genuine change," Brahimi told reporters in Damascus, adding that the transitional period "must not lead to the collapse of the state or the state's institutions."
On Thursday, Brahimi did not specify how his plan would treat Assad, and said it still needed to be determined whether the called-for elections would be for president or parliament.
The Syrian government did not immediately comment on Brahimi's suggestion.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevic said Russia is trying to revive the June plan. He also reaffirmed Moscow's objection to calls for Assad's ouster.
Anti-regime activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since crisis began in March 2011.
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