Russia warns Iran's absence from Syria talks 'unforgivable mistake'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said the absence of Iran from this week's peace talks on the Syrian crisis would be an "unforgivable mistake". "Not to ensure the presence at this event of all those who may directly influence the situation, I think, would be an unforgivable mistake," Lavrov told a televised press briefing. "So I fully support the responsible and principled approach by UN Secretary General (Ban Ki-moon), who sent an invitation to those countries that influence the situation, including the Islamic Republic of Iran." Lavrov added the Iran's absence would make the talks that are due to start on Wednesday in the Swiss city of Montreux a "sham".
Stephen Lendman: Syria Peace Talks: DOA ■ Geneva talks aren't about peace. Obama demands regime change. [He says] conflict resolution is impossible as long Assad remains president. He won't step down as long as Syrians want him retained. They do so overwhelmingly. No global consensus exists. Washington, other Western countries, Israel, and rogue regional allies want regime change. Russia, China, Iran and numerous other nations want Syrian sovereignty respected. Demanding Assad must go violates it. Syrians alone must decide their future. International law prohibits outside interference. Washington rules make peace impossible. Talks are DOA.
Finian Cunningham: Geneva II: Iran nixed proves US fixed ■ There is a good reason why Iran has been blocked from attending the Geneva II conference on Syria – because the meeting is not about finding a peaceful settlement. Rather, it is merely an American mechanism for engineering regime change in Syria. What the Americans have failed to achieve through state-sponsored terrorism, they are now trying to win through state-sponsored politics. Iran has consistently endorsed the sovereign right of the Syrian people to negotiate their political future – without pre-conditions or pressure from external powers. And it is because of this Iranian position of principle over Syria that it is being banished at the behest of the US. Iran being nixed proves the US has fixed.