Moscow, Oct 15 (IANS/ITAR -TASS) Preparations for an international peace conference on Syria are under way, but some opposition groups in Syria still refuse to participate, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told reporters Tuesday.
He recalled that the UN Security Council's resolution stated that the conference could be convened in mid-November.
"All of us are now working in this direction," Gatilov said.
"The UN Secretary-General's envoy will soon start a tour of countries in the region to meet representatives of the opposition. He will have talks in Damascus, too," he said, adding that the talks would focus on an international peace conference.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that the Syrian authorities expressed their readiness to take part in the conference long ago.
"Regrettably, some opposition groups announced their refusal to participate in the conference," he said.
--IANS/ITAR-TASS
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