Lavrov, Kerry discuss possibility of holding dialogue between Damascus and the opposition

Moscow, SANA – Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his American counterpart John Kerry discussed in a phone call the possibility of holding dialogue between Damascus and the opposition under the patronage of the United Nations.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the phone call discussed means of settling the crisis in Syria, including the possibility of having a broad spectrum of the Syrian opposition sit down at one table to prepare for dialogue with Damascus under the UN patronage to reach an agreement on ways of implementing the Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012.

Lavrov meets “Syrian opposition coalition” delegation in Moscow

Earlier, Lavrov affirmed, during his meeting with the “Syrian opposition coalition” delegation which is currently visiting Moscow, that his country is interested in uniting the efforts of the Syrians to resolve the crisis in their country.

“We are genuinely interested in helping all Syrians unite over the core task of preserving their country, ensuring stability and preventing it from becoming a hotbed of terrorism and other threats,” Lavrov said.

All sides have an interest in a speedy resolution of the Syrian crisis, he continued, adding that the most important thing is to turn these interests “into practical, coordinated actions.”

Lavrov noted that Russia is in contact with all Syrian political powers, the Syrian government and all opposition groups inside and outside Syria, stressing that his country is working with all external players including regional countries, the US and its European partners to find out a solution for the crisis and cooperate in combating terrorism.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Bogdanov, Ramzi discuss crisis in Syria

In a relevant context, Special representative of the Russian President, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with UN Deputy special envoy to Syria Ramzi Ramzi forming a communication group on settling the crisis in Syria with a possibility of an invitation for holding an international conference on Syria, Geneva 3.

“During the meeting, talks concentrated on implementing proposals of the UN Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura about forming 4 work groups to achieve agreement among the Syrian different methods on relevant topics, mainly to guarantee civil peace in Syria as well as a communication group which brings together international and regional sides concerned to hold Geneva 3,” Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that both sides also exchanged viewpoints on the development of situation in Syria, affirming that Bogdanov and Ramzi pointed out to the need for intensifying the efforts to reach an immediate political and diplomatic settlement to the crisis in Syria in line with Geneva communiqué of 2012.

It said the two sides gave a special interest for “unifying the sources in order to actively confront the terrorist expansion which poses threat to the Syrian state, regional and international security.”

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