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Lavrov to discuss with Iran’s FM implementation of Sextet’s agreements

MOSCOW, January 16, 1:28 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will discuss the situation around Syria, implementation of the Geneva agreements on the Iranian nuclear programme and the entire range of the Russian-Iranian relations. The Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Moscow will be in response to Lavrov’s visit to Tehran in December.

The Russian foreign ministry says lately between Moscow and Tehran has “developed the dynamics of a political dialogue and economic contacts.”

One of the key topics will be the problem around settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme. In November, the Sextet (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and Tehran in Geneva adopted a joint action plan, which became a first step on the way to settlement the issues, related to the Iranian nuclear dossier.

“The agreement reached in Geneva offers a firm base for further negotiations to approach an overwhelming solution,” the Russian foreign ministry said. “Russia, like previously, will undertake everything to achieve a final settlement of the issue at a negotiation table.”

The foreign ministers will pay special attention to preparations for the Geneva-2 conference on Syria. Positions of Moscow and Tehran are “similar in many respects, and first of all in the issue referring to the peaceful way of the settlement,” the foreign ministry said. “The way to it is in organisation of an international conference on Syria.”

However, the issue of Iran’s participation in the Geneva conference is not clear yet, first of all due to the position of Washington, which doubts Tehran’s constructive role in settlement of the Syrian crisis.

The Russian side meanwhile has been for inviting Iran to the forum. Several days earlier, Lavrov said “to us it quite clearly countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia should participate in Geneva-2.”

During the upcoming meeting in Moscow, the foreign ministers will also discuss issues of regional cooperation, including that in the Caspian region. The Russian-Iranian cooperation “may give an additional impetus to settlement of the objectives the Caspian countries are facing,” the foreign ministry said. “We hope for a successful fourth Caspian summit due in autumn of the current year in Astrakhan (Russia), including signing of several important documents.”

Moscow welcomes Tehran’s intentions “to establish close cooperation on Afghanistan in the region.”

“We welcome Iran’s efforts in fighting drug trafficking from Afghanistan’s territory,” the Russian foreign ministry said.