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Hillary Clinton acknowledges differences between US and Russia over Syrian crisis

At the same time, she noted that the United States hails Russia’s role in Asia and is ready to continue cooperation

VLADIVOSTOK, September 9 (Itar-Tass) — United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday said there are still differences between the United States and Russia over the Syrian crisis.

"The United States disagrees with the approach on Syria," she told a news conference after her talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.

"We have to be realistic," she said. "We haven't seen eye-to-eye with Russia on Syria."

In discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Clinton said she had underscored the resolution "will only be effective if it includes consequences for non-compliance."

"There is no point in passing a resolution with no teeth because we have seen time and time again that Assad will ignore it and keep attacking his own people," she said.

If contradictions between the United States and Russia stay in place, she noted, “we will work with like-minded states to support the Syrian opposition to hasten the day when Assad falls and to help prepare Syria for a democratic future and help it get back on its feet again.”

At the same time, she noted that the United States hails Russia’s role in Asia and is ready to continue cooperation.