MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Demands on Syrian President Bashar Assad's resignation as a precondition for the next round of talks on the country's reconciliation are unacceptable, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday.
"Demanding Bashar Assad's resignation should not be imposed as a precondition for any continuation of the [intra-Syrian] talks," the diplomat said.
Ryabkov also expressed hope that the sides would engage in a direct contact during the next round of talks due to start on April 11.
The latest round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces opened on March 14 in Geneva and lasted for 10 days. The round saw all delegations submit their settlement proposals to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who then produced a final paper with points of convergence between the parties. It was submitted for delegations' approval ahead of the new round of talks.
Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the United States and its allies have called on Assad to resign.
Russia recognizes Assad as the legitimate authority in the country, stressing that the Syrian people should be free to choose their leadership without outside intervention.
