World, Middle East

Saudi FM points out disagreement with Moscow over Syria

'This is the only thing on which we differ,' says al-Jubeir, regarding the fate of Syria's Assad

Ahmet Sait Akçay  | 27.05.2016 - Update : 27.05.2016
Saudi FM points out disagreement with Moscow over Syria RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 31: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir ( Abdülhamid Hoşbaş - Anadolu Ajansı )

Ankara

By Hakan Ceyhan Akdogan 

MOSCOW

Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir, the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, has said disagreements over Syria between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remained unresolved on Thursday at the fourth round of a strategic dialogue meeting held in Russian capital Moscow. 

Speaking at a joint conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, al-Jubeir raised concerns over the meeting, namely over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

"This is not the only thing on which we differ," he said. "Three major steps to take; first, Assad regime should stop attacking, and make room for humanitarian aid. Second, negotiations should resume and, third, dialogue should be strengthened during the Geneva process", he stated.

A “cessation of hostilities” agreement was reached by the U.S. and Russia in February in a bid to de-escalate the six-year conflict and pave the way for peace talks in Geneva between the regime and the opposition. 
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, was established in 1981.
*Anadolu Agency correspondent Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to this story from Ankara.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.