International consultations on Syria settlement to continue — Lavrov
The Russian foreign minister says the opposition in Syria also needs taking steps
NEW YORK, September 23. /TASS/. International consultations on the settlement of the ongoing conflict in Syria will be continued in the future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following the meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York.
"Nothing has happened and we will continue our consultations," Lavrov told journalists after asked about a possible agreement. "We will continue our work to guarantee the ceasefire in Syria."
"We will continue our work on the ceasefire, but certain details needs to be finalized," the Russian foreign minister said. "Some of our partners tried to make the Syrian authorities taking unilateral steps. We insist, however, that the opposition must take steps as well."
"We (the International Syria Support Group) have a common understating of the situation, but certain details must be finalized," Lavrov added.
The Russian foreign minister also said that the "the opposition needs taking steps on the maintenance of the ceasefire regime in a manner to prevent Jebhat al-Nusra and Islamic State (terrorist organizations outlawed in Russia - TASS) from taking the advantage of the situation."
US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed after the consultations of the International Syria Support Group in New York to continue talks with Russia on Friday in search of ways to settle the ongoing conflict in Syria.
"We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow," the US top diplomat was quoted as saying after the consultations on Thursday night. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated."
The US secretary of state also reiterated that the United States see no military solution to the conflict settlement in Syria.
Thursday’s meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York lasted for some two hours. The previous meeting on September 20 took a total of 50 minutes.