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Conflict in Syria

Geneva II format not yet exhausted — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urges to hold a third round of intra-Syrian talks as quickly as possible

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Lavrov calls for resuming Syria talks

MOSCOW, April 24. /ITAR-TASS/. The negotiations should not be given up as long as the Geneva II format is not exhausted, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil on Thursday.

“The main thing is to adhere to the agreements fixed in the Geneva communique without trying to interpret them differently, and to abandon unrealistic demands and preconditions,” Lavrov said. There is no military solution to the conflict, the crisis can be solved only by diplomatic means, he noted.

“Artifically postponing the convocation of a third round of inter-Syrian talks is counterproductive,” the minister said.

A third round of intra-Syrian talks should be held as quickly as possible and should not be delayed, Lavrov noted.

“A third round of talks should be held as quickly as possible. The agenda is mainly agreed upon. It is important to prevent Syria from turning in a stronghold of international extremism and terrorism,” Lavrov said.

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