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Conflict in Syria

Russian deputy FM discusses settlement in Syria with US ambassador

Special attention was paid to issues of facilitating the soonest political settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

CONFLICT IN SYRIA

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and special presidential representative for the Middle east and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov and US Ambassador to Moscow John Tefft discussed the issues of facilitating soonest political settlement of the Syrian crisis ahead of Geneva talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"During the talks, special attention was paid to issues of facilitating the soonest political settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and in the context of negotiations planned to start on January 29 in Geneva under UN auspices between representatives of the Syrian government and opposition," the foreign ministry said adding that the talks were initiated by the US side.

On 18 December 2015 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2254 in support of the Vienna agreements on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria envisages participation of the Syrian opposition and representatives of government in the talks that are due to start in January 2016. The final goals of negotiations are defined as establishing the transitional government, adopting a constitution and holding election in the next 18 months.

The document does not mention Syrian President Bashar Assad whose future remains the main stumbling block. The resolution states that the Syrian people should decide the future of the country.

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