With less than a week until the Geneva II peace conference, Russia and Syria are expressing frustrations about certain aspects of the talks.
At a news conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized certain Syrian opposition groups who have yet to decide to participate.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING:
"We are worried that while the Syrian government already agreed to take part in the conference a long time ago, and already formed its delegation, there have not been similar steps from the opposition and the so-called National Coalition. And this process is being dragged out."
Alongside Lavrov, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem accused the U.S. of a conspiracy directed at Syria by supporting terrorists in his country.
Moualem also announced a plan for security measures in Aleppo and a potential prisoner swap.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOUALEM, SAYING (ACCORDING TO O
