MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Moscow believes that Iran should attend the Geneva II international peace conference for Syria.
"The positions of Russia and Iran regarding the Syrian crisis have much in common, primarily, the opinion that there is no alternative to peace settlement. This can be achieved through the convocation of an international peace conference for Syria [Geneva II]. In the opinion of Russia, all international and regional forces capable of influence on the events in the Syrian Arab Republic should attend it [the conference]. Iran is among them," says a commentary posted by the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department ahead of a Russian visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
"We expect Geneva II to proceed from the provisions of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012. Any important decisions concerning the future of Syria must be made by Syrians themselves, by mutual consent and without external pressure," the ministry emphasized.
"Russia-Iran cooperation may give an additional impetus to the achievement of tasks faced by the Caspian Sea countries. We hope for the success of the fourth Caspian summit scheduled for fall 2014 in Astrakhan, in particular, for the signing of a number of important documents," it said.
"We also welcome the intention of Tehran to establish close regional cooperation on the subject of Afghanistan. We have a positive attitude toward the Iranian efforts to suppress drug trafficking from the Afghan territory," the ministry added.