Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, on Tuesday urged the parties to the Syrian conflict to start dialogue.
“We have addressed the Syrian authorities and all opposition groups [with a proposal] to send their representatives to Moscow within mutually acceptable time periods to hold informal contacts without preliminary conditions,” Vitaly Churkin said in the UN Security Council.
“It is very important to start a dialogue now, during which the necessary agreements on the country’s political future will be specified,” Churkin said.
The Council is meeting to discuss a new resolution on Syria.
At least 5,400 people have been killed in the government's 11-month crackdown on protesters, according to the UN. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs affiliated with al-Qaeda and say more than 2,000 soldiers and police have been killed.
Russia indicated on Tuesday it will veto a draft resolution on Syria that calls on President Bashar Assad to step down and provides for “further measures” if he refuses.
Russia has been one of Assad’s staunchest supporters during the uprising against his regime. Moscow has proposed its own draft UN resolution on Syria, but Western members of the Security Council have criticized it for being too soft.
A number of Western countries have been trying to persuade Moscow to support the resolution, which effectively gives the go-ahead to a military operation in the country. Russia has repeatedly insisted that the Western drive for a stronger crackdown on Syria is preparation for a “Libyan scenario.”
Rebels ousted and killed long-standing Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in October after a months-long military standoff in which they received assistance from NATO forces.
