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Lavrov: Russia, USA agree to look for points of contact on Ukraine's crisis

Both sides made their proposals on how to achieve a de-escalation of the situation

PARIS, March 31 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and the United States have agreed to look for points of contact for a settlement of the crisis situation in Ukraine. Such a statement has been made in Paris on Monday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the close of talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"We have held intensive talks, primarily on the crisis in Ukraine," Lavrov said. "We expressed differing points of view on its causes but agreed to look for points of contact in efforts towards a settlement of the situation in Ukraine".

Both sides, the Minister went on to say, made their proposals on how to achieve a de-escalation of the situation.

"We agreed to work with the Ukrainian government, with the Ukrainian people in a broad sense (of the workd) in order to press for such priority measures as ensuring the rights of national minorities, language rights, the disarming of provocateurs, the   effectuation of a constitutional reform, and the holding of free and honest elections under an unbiassed international supervision," Sergei Lavrov said.