"Ambassador [John] Tefft met with Deputy Foreign Minister [Mikhail] Bogdanov today to discuss Syria and plans for the upcoming meetings in Geneva. The Ambassador underscored the need to work toward a political transition as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and expressed hope that progress would be made during UN-led negotiations between the Syrian parties scheduled to begin later this week," Stevens said in a statement.
The two officials agreed to stay in touch on the Syrian issues throughout the duration of talks on the Syrian reconciliation.
Following several rounds of international talks on the Syrian crisis, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2254 on December 18, which sets out a road map for a peace process in Syria. The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire and defines a January deadline for UN-facilitated talks between the Syrian government and opposition members to commence.
On Monday, UN's Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced talks between representatives of Syria's government and opposition would begin on January 29 and may continue for six months.