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Putin, Abe discuss Syrian crisis, fight against terrorism — Lavrov

The sides also discussed drug trafficking and organized crime

VLADIVOSTOK, September 2. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have discussed on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum the Syrian crisis and the fight against terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday following the talks.

The minister noted that the foreign policy aspects of cooperation between the two countries had been discussed in detail. "It was pointed out that despite a difficult period in relations, contacts between the Foreign Ministries and the Security Councils have intensified," Lavrov said.

"We are closely cooperating with Japan in the UN. Currently our Japanese neighbors are UN Security Council non-permanent members, so we have additional areas for exerting mutual efforts," the minister noted.

"(They) discussed the issues on the UN agenda, on the agenda of the UN Security Council, including the Syrian crisis," the he said. "Japan, with our support, has become a member of the International Syria Support Group and was actively involved in developing decisions that were later endorsed by the UN Security Council and form the basis for all actions by the international community to overcome the ongoing conflict in and around Syria."

Lavrov added that the two sides also discussed issues related to combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. He noted that, "in addition to taking part in developing the decisions of the UN Security Council on these issues, there are a number of projects with the Japanese neighbors.".