Lavrov: Syrian opposition obstructs Geneva II

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held the Syrian opposition responsible for the delay of the Geneva II conference for Syria peace, planned early next year. The conference could have been held before January 2014, but the "political selfishness" of the Syria opposition prevented that, Lavrov said in a joint press conference with Italian counterpart Emma Bonino. The Russian Foreign Minister warned the Syrian opposition and its backers from sparing the chance of Geneva conference to reach a peaceful agreement to the crisis. This would be a fatal mistake and a crime, he cautioned. Lavrov stressed that the all parties involved in the Syrian crisis, at the forefront of them Saudi Arabia and Iran, should be invited to Geneva conference. Meanwhile, he welcomed the recent nuclear agreement between Iran and world major powers and expected that the deal would boost regional stability. With regard to the Palestinian cause, Lavrov suggested that Hamas movement should be a part of peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli government. For her part, Bonino expressed full support to efforts aiming to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria. She added that Italy is interested in contributing to these efforts and seeks to attend the Geneva II conference of Syria peace