Russian FM: Syrian opposition leader may visit Russia

Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib may visit Russia in early March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. “We are currently discussing the date of al-Khatib’s visit, due approximately in early March,” Lavrov said. Speaking after the Russian-Arab cooperation forum held here on Wednesday, the minister said that Russia has also been preparing for a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, due in late February. Russia and the Arab League will seek to establish direct contacts between the Syrian opposition and Bashar al-Assad’s government, (RIA Novosti) news agency quoted Lavrov as saying. “Today we’ve agreed to make use of Arab League potential to assist a soonest direct contact between the government and the Syrian opposition,” he said. The Russian Foreign Minister said that so far both sides have been putting forward preconditions for talks. “We are working to begin this dialog, and it’s up to the sides to discuss when and where it will be held. We will agree for any location” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow was ready to host the negotiations.