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Conflict in Syria

Lavrov, Kerry to hold several meetings in New York next week — Russian UN envoy

"First of all, they are planning, as co-chairs of ISSG, to have a meeting of the ISSG. There is a bilateral meeting planned as well," Vitaly Churkin said

US State Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

US State Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

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Moscow insists on publishing agreements on Syria to assess their implementation

UNITED NATIONS, September 17. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry will hold several meetings in New York on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session scheduled for September 20-26, Vitaly Churkin, Russian Ambassador to UN, said on Saturday.

"They will hold several meetings," Churkin said in response to a TASS question on when the talks between Lavrov and Kerry will take place.

He noted that Lavrov and Kerry always remain in contact. “You know, they are talking all the time. And, first of all, they are planning, as co-chairs of ISSG (International Syria Support Group), to have a meeting of the ISSG. There is a bilateral meeting planned as well,” Churkin added reminding that the ISSG meeting is planned for September 20.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry reached an agreement on Syria on September 10 after record 13-hour talks. The deal envisages restoration of the cessation of hostilities regime, separating the opposition from terrorists, and agreeing on areas of airstrikes at terrorists by the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces and US Air Force.

On Friday, September 16, Russia and US planned to hold a joint briefing for UN Security Council members to inform them about the reached agreement. However, Churkin said that the meeting was cancelled due to US’ refusal to disclose the details of the deal. As a result, the adoption of UN Security Council resolution in support of the deal is under a threat, the diplomat added.

Churkin earlier said that the document should be adopted at the UN Security Council ministerial meeting on September 21. The Russian delegation has prepared two draft resolution but the US has approved neither, he concluded.

Tags

Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Syria John Kerry Vitaly Churkin Syrian conflict

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