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Putin, Obama likely to meet on sidelines of APEC summit — Kremlin

The two presidents will most likely discuss the Syrian settlement

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not scheduled to have separate contacts with outgoing US President Barack Obama, but they may meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"There are no planned contacts with Obama now, but they are likely to meet in Peru on the sidelines of one and the same event - on the sidelines of the APEC (summit)," Peskov told reporters.

"Of course, if they (Putin and Obama) are together at this event, it cannot be ruled out that they could talk on the sidelines," he said.

"It is so far difficult to say whether this will be a full-scale conversation or not, but Putin will be in Lima, and as far as I know, President Obama will also take part in the APEC summit," he added.

According to Peskov, in case the two presidents meet on the sidelines of the summit, they will most likely discuss the Syrian settlement as "it (Syria) is the most topical issue among all we have".

"It is clear that if there will be some communication, this cannot be ruled out of course, as it is the most topical issue among all," the Kremlin spokesman said.

APEC summit

APEC is an international forum bringing together 21 leading economies of the world for cooperation on trade and economic development of the region. Creating the system of free and open trade and a liberal investment regime in the Asia-Pacific region has been declared the main task for APEC up until the year 2020.

Russia and the US also take part in APEC’s activity. Russian officials, participating in APEC summits, use this opportunity to meet not only for general discussion, but to also meet with counterparts from other countries.