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Conflict in Syria

Russian, French top diplomats discuss France’s initiative in UN on Syria

The Russian foreign minister says Moscow is determined to do everything to normalize situation in Syria

French and Russian Foreign Ministers, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Sergey Lavrov Valery Sharifulin/TASS

French and Russian Foreign Ministers, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Sergey Lavrov

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, October 6./TASS/. Russia is determined to do everything to normalize the situation in Syria and to avoid repetition of the Libyan scenario, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in the opening remarks at talks with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Read also

Refusing diplomacy on Syria may result in full-scale war — Russian Foreign Ministry

‘We are strongly concerned about the developments in Syria. We want to do all to see the situation normalized, in order to avoid by all means repetition of the tragedy that happened in other countries, in particular in Libya," the diplomat said.

Lavrov said he is ready to discuss Paris’ initiative in the United Nations on settlement in Syria.

"It is of principled importance to prevent UN Security Council resolutions from being forgotten," Lavrov said opening the talks.

"We know of France’s desire to make its contribution to the process of Syrian settlement in addition to Russian-American initiatives," he said. "We will be ready to discuss your ideas specifically."

Read also

Putin, Hollande to discuss Syria

Lavrov added that Russian and French leaders Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande will discuss the situation in Syria and Ukraine during the talks in Paris on October 19.

"We are getting ready for President Putin’s visit to France on October 19," Russia’s top diplomat said. "We believe this visit will be of tremendous importance."

"Our presidents will have an opportunity to discuss the state of bilateral relations," the minister said. "They will discuss international issues, including Syria and Ukraine."

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