Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Moscow, SANA – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed in a phone call from his U.S. counterpart John Kerry the political settlement for the crisis in Syria.
Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during the phone conversation Lavrov and Kerry continued discussing the tasks of organizing the political process between the Syrian government and the unified delegation of the opposition forces and ensuring support for these efforts from abroad by employing the capabilities of all the influential countries in the region.
On Friday Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry held a meeting in the Austrian capital, on the sidelines of a meeting that brought together the foreign ministers of Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The quartet meeting ended up in agreeing on a formula for external support related to the political process in Syria, as Lavrov announced yesterday.
Lavrov, however, noted that the formula which was not final, stressing the need to bring Iran and Egypt on board in the next round of consultations.
Lavrov stressed to Kerry need for implementing UN counterterrorism resolutions
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov stressed during talks with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry that the UN resolutions on countering terrorist organizations in Syria need to be implemented.
“Lavrov especially emphasized the need for consistent implementation of the relevant UN resolutions relating to countering [ISIS], Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups, as well as … to restoring peace and stability in Syria based on respect for and guarantees of legitimate rights of all ethnic and religious groups in the country,” the statement read.
It noted that EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini highly appreciated Russia’s initiative to hold the ministerial meeting in Vienna.
Lavrov: Moscow ready to cooperate with Washington in fighting terrorism in Syria
In an interview with Russia 24 TV station before his visit to Vienna, Lavrov said Russia was ready to cooperate with the US in fighting terrorism in Syria.
He added that there are prospects for advancement in the political process in Syria in the foreseeable future.
Lavrov stressed that Russia is open to all the parties of the Syrian opposition and it counts on the opposition whose representatives have repeatedly visited Moscow and took part in the two Moscow meetings.
He highlighted the necessity to prepare for the parliamentary and presidential elections within the framework of the political settlement in Syria.
Lavrov voiced his country’s readiness to provide air support to the “opposition” , including the “Free Army”, noting however that Moscow has still been declined information by Washington on where terrorists are located, and where is the opposition.
Lavrov inform Iranian and Egyptian counterparts on the quartet meeting
In a relevant context, Lavrov informed his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in a phone call on Saturday the outcomes of the quartet meeting in Vienna.
Both foreign ministers stressed the need to expand the international efforts to accelerate steps towards solving the crisis in Syria.
Lavrov also called his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and informed him on the outcomes of Vienna meeting.
According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed on continuing cooperation to intensify the joint efforts to support fighting terrorism in the region and the political settlement in Syria.
Qabas/H. Said
