Russia, US and the UN to Discuss the Syrian Crisis in Geneva

• 12.10.2015, 15:20
•  Near East,  World

Representatives from the United States, Russia and the United Nations are due to meet on December 11 in Geneva to discuss the Syrian conflict. The Russian side will be represented by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Genady Gatilov. Washington's delegation will be led by Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson. The Russian and American top diplomats will meet the UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.

According to RIA Novosti,  Genady Gatilov said Russia intends to present its views on solving the crisis, with emphasis on intensifying the fight against terrorism, noting that this issue has a key importance for Russia. He stressed that the format of the meeting is not new and it serves as a platform for the exchange of views on Syria.

"This time we meet, first of all, to listen to Ms. Mistura’s offers on promotion of the settlement process," Gatilov said, noting that the other problem to be discussed is the issue of terrorist lists. It is expected that they will discuss the formation of the Syrian opposition delegation to participate in the international talks in Vienna.

In his turn, the State Department spokesman John Kirby said the meeting will focus on efforts to forge a political transition and on the "framework and the architecture for a cease-fire," the Voice of America reports.  Kirby noted that the goal of the talks was to "to seek an established set of negotiating principles and to try to establish a negotiating team."

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told Reuters that the talks are part of preparatory work "to better organize the future Vienna meetings."

It should be noted that the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet in Moscow next week. The main topic of the talks will again be the Syrian crisis.