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Conflict in Syria

Russian, US and UN envoys set to meet for Syria settlement talks in Geneva

The agenda of the consultations on Friday is expected to focus on process of political transitions in Syria

© Mikhail Pochuev/TASS

GENEVA, December 11. /TASS/. Switzerland’s Geneva is set to host on Friday consultations concerning the settlement of the current situation in conflict-hit Syria and its possible political transition in the format of trilateral international talks involving representatives from Russia, the United States and the United Nations.

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Moscow wants meeting on Syrian settlement held in Vienna, not New York — diplomat

Russia will be represented at the consultations by Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and he will be holding the talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and US Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson, in charge of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA).

The agenda of the consultations on Friday is expected to focus on process of political transitions in Syria. The most important aspect in this regard was reached during the work of the International Syria Support Group’s representatives as they met in Vienna on October 30 and November 14.

On Tuesday US State Secretary John Kerry announced plans to hold a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York on December 18 and said that it will depend on the results of the conference of the Syrian opposition in Riyadh. The possible result could be forming the delegation for talks with the Syrian government.

Read also

Moscow blames US-led coalition for delays in work on Syria opposition and terrorists lists

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon supported the US proposal to gather key international and regional players for talks on Syria in New York and said he is ready to take part in the meeting.

Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, however, announced on Thursday that the idea of holding the international meeting on Syria on December 18 was premature.

"In our opinion, if the meeting is held in the nearest future, it should take place in Vienna in order to continue this process and in a sense keep a distance from the hectic atmosphere of New York," Churkin said.

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Syrian conflict

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