US And Russia Clear A Path For Syria Talks

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about Kerry’s meetings and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that despite previous similar calls, a lot of Russian airstrikes continue to go toward Syrian rebels.

The Russian foreign minister added that Syria’s opposition delegation should be representative and should be ready to negotiate constructively with the Syrian government delegation along the principles approved by the International Syria Support Group.

Ties have also been strained over the crisis in Ukraine, but the USA side said it would not be drawn into bargaining with Russian Federation over the sanctions it imposed over Moscow’s interference there. He said the Vienna-1 talks and the Vienna-2 talks were a good beginning “opening up possibilities”. The Secretary of State had met with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May.

Moscow and Washington to discuss disagreements over support for Syrian rebel groups and Assad’s role in future Syria.

“It is not conceivable that Mr. Assad can regain legitimacy in a country in which a large majority of that country despises Assad, and will not stop fighting so long as he’s in power”, Obama said Sunday at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur.

“On the Syrian settlement we were focusing on intensifying our efforts in counterterrorism”, Lavrov said.

“ISIL, Jabhat Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups are common threats to every one of us and today we reiterated our determination to uproot this evil”, he said, referring to the IS group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

Moscow said on Monday that Friday’s talks should not take place until all parties agree on both the rebel representation and a blacklist of terrorist groups that will be barred from the talks.

This is what Peskov said: “I have nothing to add to what’s already been said”.

But Western diplomats say they are sceptical of such assertions.

At talks in the Kremlin, the sides also discussed the Ukrainian conflict. Washington warned that Russia’s continued blanket use of its United Nations veto will jeopardise the Security Council’s legitimacy.

Noting that the United States does not pursue a policy of isolating Russia, Kerry reaffirmed the ability of the two countries to work effectively while moving in the same direction and concentrating efforts in the fight against terrorism. “We hope to remain in contact with our American colleagues”, he said.

The massive influx of refugees into Europe – as well as recent terror attacks by the Islamic State – have prompted the U.S.to begin more actively looking for diplomatic solutions to the crisis. After meeting with a prominent human rights activist, Kerry visited a souvenir store on a main street and talked with a group of surprised Russians, who surrounded him.

Earlier Tuesday in the Kremlin, Putin noted several “outstanding issues” between Russian Federation and its former Cold War foe.

“To the question about Russia I replied that I previously believed that we, Russia, would become a democratic, rule-of-law state and would join a family of European peoples quite quickly”.