Russia: Barring Iran from Syria peace talks a ‘mistake’

Russia says that an unprecedented decision by the United Nations to bar Iran from taking part in this week's Syria peace conference was a 'mistake' that cast a shadow on the reputation of the global body.

MOSCOW // Russia said on Tuesday that an unprecedented decision by the United Nations to bar Iran from taking part in this week’s Syria peace conference was a “mistake” that cast a shadow on the reputation of the global body.

At the same time Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, downplayed the move, saying the conference in the Swiss town of Montreux tomorrow was a “one-day event”.

“Of course this is a mistake,” Mr Lavrov said. “But no disaster has happened.”

“In any case we are talking about a one-day event on January 22 to which some 40 foreign ministers of various states including from the most remote regions have been invited.

Mr Lavrov said Iran’s absence from a list of 40 states causes questions.

“The symbolism is still important,” he said.

“I am just sorry that this whole story did not boost the authority of the United Nations.”

In an abrupt reversal, the UN barred Iran from the peace conference after it refused to back calls for a transitional government to end the three-year war in Syria.

The unprecedented diplomatic action averted a Syrian opposition boycott of the talks.

But a key bloc in the opposition coalition broke away in protest at the proposed talks with President Bashar Al Assad’s representatives.

“The Syrian crisis has laid bare the contradictions that have accumulated in the region including within the Muslim world,” said Mr Lavrov.

* Agence France-Presse