Iran's FM: Iran backs Geneva II meeting on Syria

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said here Wednesday that the Islamic republic backs the upcoming Geneva meeting on Syria. Addressing the opening ceremony of an international conference on Syrian crisis, Salehi said that "We back (upcoming) Geneva talks and the measures adopted by the UN Secretary General to solve the country's crisis peacefully." At the same time, Iran is against any military and foreign intervention in Syria, said the Iranian foreign minister. Even political intervention, which deprives the Syrians to decide on their own fate, not only will not help the settlement of the crisis but will complicate the existing situation, he maintained. Tehran conference is being held in line with "the constructive and effective regional and international efforts" to find a political way to settle the problems in the Arab state, said Salehi, adding that therefore, "We suggest that the contact group of Tehran meeting to be formed soon to push forward with the objectives of the meeting, especially to effectively communicate with the Syrian government and the opposition groups." An international conference on the Syria crisis kicked off in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday with the participation of more than 40 representatives from countries and international organizations across the globe.