MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s foreign minister and the US secretary of state on Sunday discussed cooperation in preparing for an international conference on Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Russia’s Sergei Lavrov and America’s John Kerry also discussed the disposal of Syrian chemical weapons, the ministry’s statement said.
The long-delayed Geneva-2 international peace conference, dedicated to ending the conflict in Syria, is expected to be held on January 22 in Geneva. Russia has supported the Syrian government during the civil war, while America has backed the opposition.
More than 100,000 people have been killed and 9 million people displaced since fighting broke out in Syria in 2011, according to the United Nations.
The two top diplomats also discussed Iran, noting progress in negotiations on the country’s nuclear program.
Iran and six international negotiators struck a deal in late November to slow the Islamic republic’s nuclear program. Tehran will get some $7 billion in relief from sanctions. The deal also stipulates that international observers will monitor nuclear sites in the country.
