Russia to propose India's inclusion in key conference on Syria

MOSCOW: Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will propose India's participation in a key peace conference to be held in Geneva next month to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, official sources said today.

The Geneva II Middle East peace conference is a UN-backed meeting that will be held in the Swiss city during November 23-24 to discuss ways to stop the fighting in Syria and to organise a transition period and post-war reconstruction.

Geneva II will be preceded by a preliminary meeting early next month, during which Russia will propose India's inclusion in the main conference, the sources said.

Besides Russia, the preliminary meet will be attended by the US, the European Union, China, Syria's neighbours like Iran and Turkey, representatives of Syrian rebels and President Bashar al-Assad.

India can participate in Geneva II if Russia's proposal is cleared at the preliminary meeting. However, Russia's decision to nominate India for Geneva II is a "major recognition" for the country, the sources said.

Both India and Russia have opposed military intervention in Syria and called for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting between rebels and forces loyal to embattled President Assad.

During the India-Russia summit on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lauded Russia's moves to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.

Russia played a key role in negotiations that paved the way for Syria's chemical weapons stockpile to be brought under international watch for eventual destruction.