PARIS. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Russia cannot be a mediator between Damascus and the opposition, given its policy regarding Syria, member of the Syrian National Council George Sabra told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, Russia continues to support the Syrian regime and cannot play any mediating role between the parties in the conflict in Syria," said Sabra, who leads the banned People's Party and emigrated to France a month ago.
'Russia's current policy is weakening the UN and deprives the international community of the chance to help the Syrian people and to defend citizens, who are killed daily by the Bashar Al-Assad regime," he said.
"Russia is undermining its positions in Syria and in the region," he said.
"We would like Russia to change its policy, take the interests of the Syrian people, not only the government, into account, and build new relations with the opposition and people," the Syrian opposition leader said.
Reports said earlier that Russia invited Syrian officials and opposition leaders to Moscow for informal contacts without preconditions.