Russian Federation urges for including Kurds in Syria talks

“The actions of the Russian air force, in response to the request of the Syrian leadership – have really helped to turn around the situation in the country, helped towards reducing the territory controlled by terrorists”, Lavrov said at his main annual press conference.

“Of course we are representing a large number of people on the ground so by excluding us they are not doing well for a political solution”.

He also ruled out presence of separate opposition groups for Syrian Turkmens or Arabs as the opposition delegation at the table will consist of them all. “We will demand their strict implementation in accordance with additional efforts made during the meetings of the Normandy four”, he said.

“They say the PYD will not be invited, but if it is invited we will certainly boycott the Geneva talks”, he added.

The extremist Islamic State – considered a terrorist group – has not been invited to attend the talks in Geneva.

Lavrov said there was no point in such a trip as Assad visited Moscow in the fall and had extensive talks with President Vladimir Putin.

The inquiry, which concluded it was probable that senior Kremlin officials ordered Litvinenko’s killing, contained groundless accusations and left many questions unanswered, Lavrov said.

Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 passed on December 18, a transitional government should be formed in Syria and work on the new constitution should begin within six months after the beginning of the talks.

Russia’s military is undergoing a multi-billion dollar overhaul.

Salem Meslet, spokesman for the opposition Supreme Committee for Negotiations, a Saudi-backed body, insisted the government should lift sieges imposed on several rebel-held areas around the country before any talks take off. Fierce, ongoing tensions have also led negotiators to decide that the opposing sides won’t initially meet face-to-face – a sign that even minimal progress is far from certain. He projected a long-process of shuttle diplomacy over months that begin with a two- or three-week process. “The important thing is that we keep the momentum”.