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More than 700 journalists to cover peace conference on Syria in Montreux

MONTREUX, January 21, 22:59 /ITAR-TASS/. More than 700 journalists gathered in the Swiss city of Montreux to cover an upcoming international peace conference on Syria.

The UN told an Itar-Tass correspondent that media from Russia and the United States - the countries that organized the Geneva-2 conference due on Wednesday, January 22, in Montreux - were interested in the event more than others. Representatives of leading Arab news agencies also arrived in the city.

Geneva-2 is designed to negotiate ways to end the civil war in the Middle East country that, according to UN statistics, has left over 100,000 people dead and displaced millions since its start in 2011. The forum will be attended by foreign ministers and high-ranking diplomats from 39 countries, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the leaders of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, delegations of the Syrian government and opposition.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is already in Switzerland. He is expected to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday.

Unprecedented security measures have been introduced to protect high-ranking guests in Montreux. In particular, the central part of the city is cordoned off, and entrance is only allowed for those who have special passes.

The Montreux city hall told Itar-Tass that city residents accept temporary inconveniences with understanding because the future of the Syrian people in many respects depends on the results of the talks.

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Middle East and North Africa Geneva II

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