Syria peace envoy to arrive in Moscow for talks

This was announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich. According to him, talks will focus on Brahimi’s efforts aimed at ending the violence in Syria and launching a national dialogue between the government and the opposition.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Minister said that the Syrian authorities should maximally concretize their readiness for negotiations.

The international community should "not incite either side to continue bloodshed, and refrain from setting preconditions," said Lavrov.

The warring sides should be encouraged to move in the direction of a truce, said the minister.

Voice of Russia, RIA

Lakhdar Brahimi hopes Syria crisis will be resolved in 2013

UN and League of Arab States special envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi hopes that the armed conflict in this country will be resolved next year. This was announced by the official spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Martin Nesirky.

Thus he refuted media speculations that Brahimi, arriving in Moscow on December 29, would discuss possibility of a transfer of power to the new government in 2014.

There had been information in the press that Russia and the U.S. had allegedly developed a settlement plan providing for Bashar al-Assad’s retaining his post until the end of 2014. According to Nesirky, Brahimi believes a power transfer should be carried out in Syria as soon as possible.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry also denied rumors of a joint plan between Moscow and Washington on this issue. According to the Ministry’s official spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, Russia proceeds from the assumption there is no alternative to the international accords reached in Geneva.

Voice of Russia, TASS