Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that the preparations for Moscow consultative meeting on the crisis in Syria are continuing actively.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that the preparations for Moscow consultative meeting on the crisis in Syria are continuing actively.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Tanzanian counterpart Bernard Membe in Moscow on Friday, Lavrov said Russia has not received any refusals from any of the groups of the “Syrian opposition” for the present to participate in Moscow meeting, scheduled for January 26-29.

“We feel there is great interest in this event on the part of the opposition figures who have been invited and of the so-called foreign players,” Lavrov told the conference.

He went on saying “It is clear that every opposition group tries to strengthen its position and be ready to discuss issues that will be on the agenda. Tactical maneuvering is under way.”

Lavrov described the communication process as being not easy, noting that “It is the first attempt during the period of the Syrian crisis to bring together various opposition representatives…There have been no such attempts before.”

On Wednesday, Lavrov said the “opposition” groups which might refuse to participate in Moscow meeting on Syria “will lose”, noting that Russia counts on a good level of representation in the meeting.