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Lavrov-Kerry meeting can last several days

The meeting should start on Thursday and end on Friday, may continue on Saturday, says Russian diplomatic source
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Alexandra Mudratz
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Alexandra Mudratz

GENEVA, September 11 (Itar-Tass) - Talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry can last several days, a source at the Russian permanent mission to the U.N. and other international organisations in Geneva told Itar-Tass.

“By all accounts, the meeting should start on Thursday and end on Friday. It is not ruled out that the meeting can continue on Saturday,” the Russian diplomat said.

“At present, there is no information saying any third party should take part in the talks. This will be bilateral talks and the U.N. is not expected to be involved,” the diplomat said.

Corinne Momal-Vanian, director of the U.N. Information Service in Geneva, said the United Nations had not asked for any platform for holding consultations. “There is no such address. At the moment, [U.N./LAS Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar] Brahimi is not expected to take part in the meeting,” she told Itar-Tass.

Lavrov and Kerry are expected to meet at one of the lifestyle hotels of Geneva. Among priority issues are discussions on Russia’s initiative to place chemical weapons in Syria under international control.