Int’l conference to find political solutions to Syria crisis kicks off in Iran

UN envoy Gary Lewis (C) speaks during the international conference on Syria crisis in Tehran, Iran, on May 29, 2013. An international conference on the Syria crisis kicked off in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday with the participation of more than 40 representatives from countries and international organizations across the globe. <Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz>

An international conference on the Syria crisis kicked off in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday with the participation of more than 40 representatives from countries and international organizations across the globle.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minster Ali-Akbar Salehi expressed hope that the meeting would help find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Salehi said that the recent aggression of Israel against Syria has complicated the situation in Syria, which requires ” constructive and effective participation of all friendly countries ” to settle the Syrian conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, speaks during an international conference on Syria called "Political Solution- Regional Stability", at an hotel, in Tehran, Iran Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Iran has expressed its support for an international conference to end the bloodshed in Syria. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says Tehran "supports Geneva talks and U.N. efforts." The U.S. and Russia are leading a joint push to launch Syria peace talks, possibly next month in Geneva, though there is little evidence to suggest that either side in Syria is ready to halt more than two years of violence that has killed more than 70,000 people. <AP Photo/Vahid Salemi>

Syria is strategically one of the important countries in the Middle East and “the continuation of crisis in the country can create challenges to the stability and tranquility of the whole region,” said Salehi.

Iran has stressed on stopping bloodshed in Syrian and adopting political means to restore peace in the country, so that political reforms can be carried out, he added.

“During the past years, the Islamic republic has been part of the solution to the regional crisis and has played its positive and influential roles in establishing tranquility in the crises of Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon,” Salehi said.

A general view of an international conference on Syria called "Political Solution- Regional Stability", at an hotel, in Tehran, Iran Wednesday, May 29, 2013. <AP Photo/Vahid Salemi>

A previous meeting on Syria held in Tehran last November called for a ceasefire and an end to the armed conflicts in the crisis- ridden country.

Iran has been the main regional ally of the Syrian government as its officials have repeatedly stressed Iran’s support to a political solution to the Syrian crisis. <Xinhua/NEWSis>