Syria to participate in Geneva II conference "in principle": FM Syrian FM said that Syria "in principle" will attend the upcoming Geneva conference. He made a surprise visit to Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Sunday. "This conference is good opportunity for political solution for the people of Syria," he said. BAGHDAD, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem on Sunday made a surprise visit to Iraqi capital of Baghdad and said in a press conference that Syria "in principle" will attend the upcoming Geneva conference. "I have informed (Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri) al-Maliki and the Iraqi Foreign Ministry with Syria's decision to participate in principle in the conference in Geneva in June with an official delegation, and I have perceived their (Iraqi officials) relief at Syria's decision," Mualem told reporters in a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari. "This conference is good opportunity for political solution for the people of Syria," Mualem said. He added that "the dialogue between the spectra of the Syrian people is the only solution for the Syrian crisis, because there is no one can make decision instead of the Syrian people." For his part, Zebari reiterated the "need to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis which could be reached between the Syrian factions themselves." Earlier in the day, Mualem arrived in Baghdad on a surprise visit and held a meeting with al-Maliki. The two sides discussed the development in Syria and Syria's participation in Geneva conference, according to a statement issued by Maliki's office. Iraq's Shiite-dominated government has maintained close ties with Syria, whose President Bashar al-Assad is a member of Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Iraq welcomes Syria's participation in Geneva II conference BAGHDAD, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government on Sunday welcomed the participation of Syria in the upcoming Geneva II conference slated for June to discuss the Syrian crisis. Earlier in the day, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem arrived in Baghdad on a surprise visit and said in a press conference that Syria in principle will attend the Geneva meeting.Full story The fresh round of talks are set to run for three days, during which Syria's exiled National Coalition is set to elect a new president to replace the resigned chief, Moaz al-Khatib.Full story Syrian opposition fails to reach decision on attending Geneva talks BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Syria's opposition has so far failed to agree whether or not to take part in the Geneva conference initiated by Russia and the United States. However, it has agreed on general principles on the expansion of the Syrian National Coalition. Three parties have decided to join the coalition.Full story Iran hopes Geneva II meeting help settle Syrian issue TEHRAN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister expressed hope that the forthcoming Geneva II meeting will help resolve the 26-month-old Syrian crisis, official IRNA news agency reported Saturday. Ali-Akbar Salehi made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Turkish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mehdi Eker here on Saturday.Full story "We want to stop bloodshed, so it is very important to have goodwill gestures from both sides," said Syrian National Coalition (SNC) spokesperson, Khaled Saleh, at a press conference following the council's second day of meeting.Full story