Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
Trend:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry had a phone conversation, during which they expressed support for a speedy announcement of a date for start of Syria talks in Geneva, RIA Novosti news agency reported citing a message from Russia's Foreign Ministry.
The date for commencement of the Syria talks is to be announced by the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
It was expected earlier that the talks on Syria will start Jan. 25 in Geneva. UN earlier said there is a possibility to postpone the commencement of talks due to practical reasons.
During the phone conversation, Lavrov and Kerry discussed preparations for the talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces, which are to be organized under the UN's auspices in Geneva for the settlement of the Syrian conflict.
"Sergei Lavrov once again stressed the need for conscientious implementation of the UN Security Council's Resolution 2254 by all the parties, including the creation of opposition's representative delegation and setting an agenda on creation of a united front to fight terrorist groups, to reach a ceasefire, to solve humanitarian issues and to make political reforms on the basis of mutual consent of the government and its opponents," read the message.
"The minister and the secretary of state expressed support for a speedy announcement of a date for the start of Syria talks by the UN's special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura," the message said.