The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the meeting of the so-called "friends of Syria" group in Paris is unilateral, politically wrong, and immoral, because this group is relying exclusively on just one part of the opposition. In a statement issued, the Ministry's spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that Russia, China and other countries that are bound by friendship to Syria refused to join the ranks of those "friends" for the aforementioned reasons.

Lukashevich stressed that being friends with only a part of the Syrian opposition will just lead to intensifying contradictions and confrontation within Syria and making the stances of the conflicting sides in Syria more extreme, which can only lead to continuing violence and more tragedies.

He said that there's an impression that some of those who participated in the meeting in Geneva on June 30th aren't taking the responsibilities which are entailed by the resulting document seriously, noting that the final document issued by the meeting stipulates for all sides of the work group to work to encourage all sides in Syria to fully implement the plan of UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

He added that instead, they present theatrical and political propaganda shows that are similar to conferences of political parties, in which the fate of Syria is discussed in the absence of its main representatives and loud calls are made for the opposition to go into battle to undermine the Syrian leadership, referring that generous financial and economic support is given to the opposition with signs indicating the possibility of resorting to the use of force scenario.

He went on to stress that Moscow adheres precisely to the plan for peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis by the Syrians themselves without foreign intervention, and that general directives for such a settlement were laid down in Geneva.

Lukashevich affirmed the need to unite the Syrian opposition and initiate dialogue with the government, which would allow the Syrians to decide upon their country's fate independently and democratically within the framework of Syria's sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity.