Syrian peace envoy quits; Russia pushes for talks
Brahimi steps down after failed negotiation attempts, Russia insists, 'there should be no artificial pause in the political process'.
MOSCOW - The resignation of international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi must not disrupt diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict, Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Russia is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's most powerful diplomatic ally and main arms supplier.
Brahimi will step down at the end of this month after two rounds of negotiations between the Assad government and the opposition which failed to break a deadlock.
Related Stories
- Syria's rebels are pitting Israel against Hezbollah, and winning
- Syrian patients in Israel call on Netanyahu to bomb Syria
- Report: Syrian rebels offer to sell Golan to Israel in return for military aid
"Russia assumes that the future successor to Brahimi... will safeguard continuity after his departure," Russian news agency Itar-Tass quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying.
"We believe there should be no artificial pause in the political process, the positive dynamics accumulated during previous rounds (of talks) must be safeguarded."
Russia helped ensure the Syrian government's participation at the peace talks in Geneva but has also blocked Western efforts at the UN Security Council to put pressure on Assad to end violence, including with the threat of sanctions.
"The most important thing is that the Syrian government is ready to continue the dialogue. We encourage and support Damascus in that," Gatilov said.
