abstract:The Group of Friends of the Syrian People (sometimes: Friends of Syria Group or Friends of the Syrian People Group or Friends of Democratic Syria or simply Friends of Syria) is an international diplomatic collective of countries and bodies convening periodically on the topic of Syria outside the U.N.
Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told CNN's "The Situation Room" that the United States will push other approaches to the conflict, including through the FriendsofSyriaGroup.
Russia - a close ally of President Assad - has said the promises of aid to the opposition made by the US and other countries in the "Friends ofSyria" group will encourage further violence rather than a negotiated solution.