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Middle East and North Africa

Putin, Obama discuss Syria by telephone

President Obama presented his condolences over the devastating flood in the Kuban region that caused numerous civilian casualties

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 18 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday had a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barrack Obama,” Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists, adding the initiative had come from the American side.

“President Obama presented his condolences over the devastating flood in the Kuban region that caused numerous civilian casualties,” Peskov said.

Putin and Obama discussed the situation in Syria in the context of the U.N. Security Council debate on the draft resolutions on Syria. Both noted the situation was aggravating.

“On the whole, the exchange of opinions showed convergence of the general assessment of the situation in Syria and the settlement’s ultimate goal,” Peskov went on to say.

He said that the Russian and U.S. presidents agreed to be in close contact on the Syrian issue.

Middle East and North Africa

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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