Moscow Says 'Impossible to Negotiate' With US, Saudi-Backed Opposition

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakahrova said that the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) disrupted the peace process by putting forward a set of preconditions ahead of the January 29 dialogue between Syrian government and opposition groups, despite de Mistura’s declaration for the talks to go ahead without preconditions.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Parts of the Syrian opposition backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States are impossible to negotiate with, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakahrova said in an interview with the RT broadcaster Wednesday.

The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) refused to take part in much-anticipated intra-Syrian talks two weeks ago, prompting UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to postpone the negotiations until February 25.

"We have seen that it is entirely impossible to negotiate with parts of the opposition supported by Saudi Arabia or, for example, the United States. They did not support these talks and these meetings," Zakharova said.

Zakharova added the HNC disrupted the peace process by putting forward a set of preconditions ahead of the January 29 dialogue between Syrian government and opposition groups, despite de Mistura’s declaration for the talks to go ahead without preconditions.

Addressing US and European accusations that Russia was behind disrupting the Syrian negotiations, Zakharova reminded that Moscow had insisted on intra-Syrian talks three years ago.

"We twice convened and held Syrian opposition conferences in Moscow, which in fact became the basis for the Geneva talks. I emphasize that it was with our support and our pressure that both the Damascus government and the Syrian opposition groups arrived at the talks," she stressed.

Zakharova said Moscow views influential Western media accusations as part of information warfare waged against Russia.