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Russia, Turkey interested in start of UN-backed political dialogue in Syria — Lavrov

Russian and Turkey have a common vision of goals but have different ideas about possible ways to achieve them
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  Alexander  Scherbak/TASS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
© Alexander Scherbak/TASS

SOCHI, September 17. /TASS/. Russia and Turkey are interested in the start of a "results-oriented" political process under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with agreements reached in 2012, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday after talks with his Turkish counterpart Feridun Sinirlioglu.

"We share a common vision on those goals we need to strive for," Lavrov said, noting the need to secure stability and prevent extremists from maintaining their foothold and seizing new territories. The two countries had different ideas about possible ways to achieve those aims, he said.

As for the Syrian settlement, Russia and Turkey "have a common interest in facilitating the start of a meaningful, concrete and results-oriented political process under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with the agreements reached with the help of Moscow and Ankara in June 2012", Lavrov said.

"The Geneva communique [issued on 30 June 2012 after a meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva of the UN-backed Action Group for Syria] envisages resolution of all problems facing the Syrians exclusively through nationwide dialogue that involves representatives of all possible political and social forces, all ethnic and confessional groups," Lavrov recalled. "This dialogue should lead to common consent as a result."

Russia’s top diplomat said he was satisfied with talks. He said they had agreed with Sinirlioglu to "continue contacts", adding that the foreign ministries of the two nations were engaged in "a continuous dialogue."