MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed concerns about the position taken by the Syrian opposition on the issue of its participation in Geneva II.
"We are, of course, concerned about the fact that, while the Syrian government has already given its consent to participate in the conference and has formed its delegation, the opposition, primarily the so-called National Coalition, has still not taken any steps in this direction and they are being delayed," Lavrov told a press conference following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart in Moscow.
Lavrov recalled that Geneva II is scheduled to open with a meeting at the ministerial level in Montreux on January 22.
Lavrov also reiterated that other opposition forces of Syria should participate in the conference.
"We find it very alarming that our partners are fully focused on convincing the National Coalition to come to the Geneva conference, while at the same time ignoring other patriotic opposition groups, which are active in Syria and which are interested in participating in Geneva II," Lavrov said.
"I mean primarily the National Coordination Committee and Kurdish organizations," the minister said.