Russia, U.S. agree on concrete steps to promote settlement in Syria, destroy terrorists in this country - Lavrov
MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - Russia and the United States have common understanding as to what needs to be done to intensify a settlement process in Syria and destroy the terrorists acting in this country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We have thoroughly considered steps that Russia and the U.S. may take together to provide joint dynamics to the efforts toward implementing UN Security Council resolutions and relevant decisions by the International Syria Support Group. We have common understanding as to what steps Russia and the U.S., as the ISSG co-chairs, may take together to improve the efficiency of our common work," Lavrov said at a press conference following negotiations with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Moscow early on Saturday.
Lavrov said Kerry and he "have reaffirmed the goal of eliminating the threats emanating from Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra [banned in Russia] and other terrorist organizations in Syria and putting an end to the feeding of terrorism from the outside."
"We attached particular significance to reinforcing the cessation of hostilities and making sure that all parties in Syria without any exception adhere to the ceasefire - surely, except for the terrorists, who do not fall under this agreement," Lavrov said.
"We have agreed on specific measures that will be undertaken so that, with relevant experts involved, we could move ahead efficiently along these avenues, with the absolute observance of and respect for international law," Lavrov said.
