North AmericaSyria

Foreign-backed Syria opposition to open offices in New York, Washington

mazimi20130209060452957Syria’s opposition coalition is planning to open two offices in the US, Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin says.

One of the offices will be located near UN headquarters in New York while the other will be set up in Washington, Churkin said, RIA Novosti reported on Saturday.

Dr. Najib Ghadban, a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas, and Ubab Halil, a real state trader from Texas, both of Syrian origin, are set to head the offices, according to the report.

The Russian envoy said Moscow is willing to hold talks with the Syrian opposition but would block any efforts by the group to use its presence near the UN headquarters to raise its profile and gain political influence on the international stage.

“We are absolutely against it as it may obstruct the establishment of a political dialogue [in Syria],” Churkin said.

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with the head of Syria’s opposition coalition Moaz al-Khatib on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference.

Following the rare meeting, Russia invited Khatib to Moscow for further talks on the political resolution of the crisis in Syria.

In Munich, Lavrov also met US Vice-President Joe Biden and UN special envoy for Syria crisis Lakhdar Brahimi.

The top Russian diplomat once again rejected the US demand for the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a precondition for the formation of a transitional government and the final resolution of the crisis, saying insistence on this issue “is the single biggest reason for the continued tragedy in Syria.”

On Friday, the Syrian government said it is ready to hold talks with the opposition but without any “preconditions.”

“The door is open, the negotiating table is there, welcome to any Syrian who wants to have dialogue with us,” said Syria’s Information Minister Omrane al-Zoubi.

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