MOSCOW, January 10. /ITAR-TASS/. The attempts to resolve the Syrian crisis by military means are non-vital, the Foreign Ministry reported on the results of Russian-American consultations involving deputies foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov and Gennady Gatilov, and U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.

“The parties confirmed the need to step up the efforts in order to convene the Geneva II Peace Conference on Syria on January 22, 2014. The parties stressed that the Syrian crisis should be settled only by political and diplomatic means,” the ministry said.

During the consultations, “the parties said the forum was designed to give a start to direct inter-Syrian talks on the basis of the Geneva communiqué. Syrians themselves will resolve issues of the future state structure”, the ministry said.

“Russian representatives pointed to the importance of joining efforts between the Syrian government and the opposition to struggle against terrorist groups, which pose a threat to the future of the republic and to regional stability,” the ministry said.

U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman held consultations in Moscow on Friday, January 10, to discuss the preparation of the international conference on Syria known as Geneva II and the implementation of agreements on Iran.

She came to Moscow from Geneva where she was scheduled to meet with European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Helga Schmid and with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action agreed to by the P5+1 and Iran.