The head of the so-called Syrian National Council (SNC) said in Kuwait on Monday he would visit Russia at Moscow’s invitation, but gave no date for the trip.

The head of the so-called Syrian National Council (SNC) said in Kuwait on Monday he would visit Russia at Moscow's invitation, but gave no date for the trip.

"I have received an invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Moscow delivered by his deputy around 20 days ago," Ahmad Jarba, head of the opposition National Coalition umbrella body, told the official KUNA news agency.

"I have accepted the invitation (but) could not go (yet) because I was busy with other engagements. I will visit Russia to convince them that their interest lies with the Syrian people and not with the regime," said Jarba, who is on his first visit to Kuwait.

Jarba remarks come ahead of a Geneva conference which is scheduled for January 22. The conference is aimed at ending the conflict in Syria.

 However the foreign-backed opposition leader gave no date for the visit or any indication whether it would take place before the Geneva 2 conference.
Jarba said that the National Coalition had decided to attend the Geneva 2 conference under a string of conditions, including that President Bashar al-Assad would “have no role in Syria's political future.”

He added that the opposition conditions were accepted by the friends of Syria meeting held in London and attended by foreign ministers of 11 countries.
"Based on our agreement with the 11 foreign ministers, the Geneva 2 talks will be limited in duration," said Jarba.

"It will lead to a transitional government with real presidential executive powers over security, army, intelligence and the judiciary and Bashar al-Assad will play no role in the transitional period or the future of Syria," Jarba said.

For its part, Damascus firmly said that the Syrian delegation would not go to Geneva in order to hand power, stressing that the delegation is going to the Swiss capital under the orders of president Assad.