"The Sochi statement does not concern us and is not even a subject of discussion." Russia hosted what it called a Syrian Congress of National Dialogue in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. However, the event was boycotted by the leadership of the Syrian opposition, while powers such as the United States, Britain and France stayed away because of what they said was the Syrian government's refusal to properly engage. Some delegates stood during the Russian minister's speech, prompting a counterdemonstration at the Syrian Congress of National Dialogue in Sochi. Artyom Kozhin, a senior diplomat at the Russian Foreign Ministry, acknowledged there had been some complications.

Source: CBC News January 30, 2018 16:07 UTC