Russia, U.S. agree to help start dialogue between Syrian govt, opposition - Lavrov
BRUSSELS. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow and Washington have agreed to do all they can to get dialogue started between the Syrian government and opposition.
"Russia and the United States, judging from my talks with [U.S. Secretary of State] John Kerry, are convinced that this chance must be used and that everything possible must be done to ensure that contact takes place between the government and opposition, and that issues of minor importance, in my opinion, be settled: who the negotiators will be, from which sides and where such a dialogue should be conducted," Lavrov told the media.
Syria was the main issue which Kerry wanted to discuss by telephone, Lavrov said.
"We talked about the situation with an accent on the sprouts of hope for the government and opposition's committed talks, with whatever reservations, on the need to start a dialogue. We also discussed what we can do to prevent these preconditions from obstructing the dialogue," Lavrov said.