After Russia, Chinese authorities sent an emissary to Syria – February 17, Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun arrives in Damascus for two days’ talks. This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
Earlier this week China’s Foreign Ministry said that the representative of the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Huaxin met with Nabil al-Arabi, Secretary General of the Arab League, in the organization’s headquarters in Cairo. Following the talks, Li Huaxin told the media that both parties had a very sincere and effective conversation.
February 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov met in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad. During the talks the Russian side expressed the need to end the violence and hold talks in Moscow between the opposition and members of Assad regime. The Syrian president also confirmed to send an official government delegation to the Russian capital.
The revolt against the Assad regime in Syria began in March 2011. According to human rights group, the government has repeatedly used the army to crush the peaceful protests. The total number killed in the clashes, according to the UN, has exceeded six thousand.
February 4, Russia and China blocked a draft resolution on Syria in UN Security Council by using the veto. The remaining 13 states – members of the council all supported the document, which calls on the Syrian authorities to immediately stop the violence.
February 12th, Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Arab League, whose mission in Syria has been suspended, has decided to appeal to the UN Security Council with a proposal to send a joint peacekeeping mission in Syria. Representatives of the Arab countries also called for tougher sanctions.