Lavrov to hold talks with Kerry, Saudi FM in Qatar

The Russian Overseas Ministry stated that Sergey Lavrov will talk to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Overseas Minister Saudi Overseas Minister Adel Al-Jubeir throughout his two-day journey to Doha beginning Sunday. “I don’t believe I was able to sway the US position, but in this issue we obviously differ”, Lavrov added.

“These include an effective and coordinated fight against the universal threat of terrorism in the face of the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other similar extremist groups”, the statement said.

Speaking at a news conference on a visit to Qatar, Lavrov, whose country is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said a settlement to Syria’s war needed dialogue between all parties.

Mashaal has met Lavrov twice before in Russian Federation, in 2007 and 2010.

One US official said that Kerry would use the meeting with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to “try to respond to any remaining questions they might have, hopefully satisfy them and ensure that they are supporting our effort going forward”.

“This meeting reflects our principled policy to work with all representatives of Syrian people without exceptions – with the government side and with the opposition groups alike, without picking anyone among the oppositioners whom we prefer”, Lavrov said.