Preparations underway for meeting on Syrian crisis settlement in Moscow

Russian presidential representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Tuesday said Moscow is participating in preparations for a new meeting of representatives from all of Syria's political forces for a settlement of the conflict there, TASS news agency reported.

"Preparations for the meeting are in progress," Bogdanov told reporters in Moscow.

"We have drawn up lists of participants in the meeting. We are planning to exchange them with the United States or Saudi Arabia," he added.

Should the need arise, he added, "we will hold more contacts in Moscow and in Damascus and possibly some other place."

"We have had no plans for the immediate future so far, but they may emerge," he remarked. "Russia is prepared to host a Moscow-3 meeting."