Russia FM: Syria talks guarantee opposition’sparticipation in politics

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that the upcoming Syria peace negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan will guarantee that the armed opposition will have “full rights to participate in the political process.”

“One of the objectives of the meeting in Astana is first of all to consolidate the ceasefire,” Russian state-owned RT  reported Lavrov as saying during his annual press conference.

Lavrov explained that several armed opposition groups have asked Russia to guarantee their participation in a political process that will still include the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad.

“What has been lacking so far in the Syrian negotiations is the participation of those who actually influence the situation on the ground,” Lavrov said, explaining that now “field commanders” in the opposition have the opportunity to participate in the political process.

Russia and Turkey brokered last month a nationwide ceasefire in the war-torn country which went into effect on 30 December. While the ceasefire has largely held, it has been severely tested in the strategic Wadi Barada valley northwest of the Syrian capital Damascus.