MOSCOW, October 31 (Itar-Tass) - Russian president’s special Middle east envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Egyptian Ambassador in Moscow Mohammed al-Badri on Thursday discussed issues related to the preparation of the Geneva 2 peace conference. Russia’s Foreign Ministry reported that the meeting was held at the request of the head of the Egypt’s embassy.

During the conversation the sides touched upon a number of issues related to the promotion of bilateral cooperation in various spheres, stressed the importance of strengthening ties between representatives of Russian and Egyptian civil society.

“The sides also exchanged views on current developments in the Middle East and North Africa, including preparations for convening the Geneva 2 international conference with the aim of attaining the earliest political settlement of the Syrian crisis,” the ministry said.