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Conflict in Syria

Russia, US, UN name Geneva II conference as important event

Russia's Foreign Ministry: Syrians themselves should take a decision on key issues of the future of their state

A giant screen at the entrance of the Swiss resort of Montreux welcomes to this week's Syria peace talks in Montreux and Geneva, Switzerland AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

A giant screen at the entrance of the Swiss resort of Montreux welcomes to this week's Syria peace talks in Montreux and Geneva, Switzerland

© AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

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Lavrov, Kerry discuss need to cease bloodshed in Syria, start dialogue

MOSCOW, January 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named the convocation of the Geneva II Peace Conference on Syria as an important event, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The ministry commented on Tuesday’s meeting between Lavrov, Kerry and Ban Ki-moon in Montreux. The meeting focused on issues related to the upcoming international conference on Syria.

“Ban Ki-moon gave a high assessment to the efforts taken by Russia and the United States as the countries, which had initiated the convocation of the conference. The U.N. Secretary-General praised the efforts taken by U.N./LAS Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi to prepare the forum, which should give a start to an inter-Syrian political dialogue,” the ministry said.

“The conference will start working on January 24 when the warring parties meet under Brahimi’s auspices. Syrians themselves should take a decision on key issues of the future of their state,” the ministry said.

“The inter-Syrian dialogue should unite all Syrians in order to counter terrorism in compliance with the G8 statement,” the ministry said.

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