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Lavrov, Guterres discuss situation in Syria, anti-pandemic cooperation

The sides exchanged views on the current problems of the international agenda

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. The current situation in the Syrian settlement process and cooperation in combating the novel coronavirus infection were in focus of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Russian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"The sides exchanged views on the current problems of the international agenda, including issues of Syrian settlement, combating the coronavirus pandemic, problems of climate change and the United Nations’ practical efforts in these areas," the ministry said.

Special attention was focused on the current situation on the ground in Syria. Lavrov and Guterres agreed that it is necessary to invigorate international humanitarian assistance to people in Syria "without politicization and preliminary conditions." The Russian top diplomat stressed the importance of the implementation of the UN Secretary General’s call for mitigation and suspension of unilateral sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"The sides reiterated mutual interest in closer cooperation between Russia and the UN system to stop the COVID-19 pandemic," the ministry added.