MOSCOW
The Chairman of the International Relations Committee at the lower house of the Russian Parliament (the Duma), Alexey Pushkov said that Russia can not accept a precondition that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave power as a precondition for talks between the opposition and the regime.
Speaking on possible talks between the Syrian opposition and the regime, Pushkov indicated that the Moscow administration and the Syrian government would not accept an approach that would force Assad to leave power before talks began.
The US has to give up its nonsense and not expect democracy to arrive after Assad leaves, Pushkov noted.
In order to solve the problem in Syria, talks must begin followed by discussions on the future of the political structure, Pushkov also said.
