Lavrov hopes to discuss possible Putin-Trump meeting with Tillerson in Bonn

Russian Politics & Diplomacy February 10, 2017, 23:58

The two top diplomats are expected to meet on the sidelines of a Group of Twenty meeting in Bonn or the Munich Security Conference

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday he plans to discuss with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a possible meeting between the Russian and U.S. leaders.

The two top diplomats are expected to meet on the sidelines of a Group of Twenty meeting in Bonn or the Munich Security Conference.

"I hope there will be some clarity on that matter with the U.S. State Secretary. Both of us are planning to attend the forums in Germany later in this month. There will be a meeting of the Group of Twenty foreign ministers in Bonn, which will be followed by the annual Munich Security Conference," he said in an interview with the Itogi Nedeli weekly news roundup on Russia’s NTV television channel.

Lavrov reminded that the two heads of state had a telephone conversation on January 28 and discussed a wide range of issues, despite the gaps in their positions on them. Among the topics for discussion were issues concerning North Korea and Iran and problems of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"This is what diplomacy is about: to try to find common language even on what seems to be next to impossible to reach agreement on," Lavrov added.

On February 16-17, the Russian foreign minister will take part in a G20 foreign ministerial meeting in Bonn. Earlier, a Russian Foreign Ministry source said Lavrov and Tillerson may meet during upcoming international forums.

The annual Munich Security Conference will be held on February 17 through 19. It is not ruled out that the Russian foreign minister may meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of this forum.

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