Lavrov, Kerry Expected to Meet on Thursday, Friday in Geneva to Discuss Syria

© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankForeign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry - Sputnik International
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry are expected to meet on Thursday and possibly Friday for the fourth time within two weeks to discuss the Syrian conflict resolution.

GENEVA (Sputnik) — The diplomats will meet within the framework of a personal meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva on September 8-9, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia and the United States are working out an action plan to coordinate their efforts in the crisis-torn Syria. The sides are discussing actions aimed at conflict settlement, including strengthening of a ceasefire regime and anti-terror cooperation between Moscow and Washington.

At the same time US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner declined to confirm Kerry-Lavrov meeting on Syria.

The two ministers have already met on August 26 in Geneva and on September 4 and 5 in the Chinese Hangzhou. The Chinese meetings were also followed by the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry - Sputnik International
Lavrov, Kerry Discuss Steps to Resolve Syrian Conflict, Including Truce - Moscow
Despite the frequent contacts Moscow and Washington have not reached an agreement on Syria, Following the meetings the sides have announced about a certain progress on the issue, but have not revealed any details.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Sunday that Moscow and Washington were close to reaching a deal on Syria, which could help to differentiate terrorists from opponents of the Damascus authorities, who are ready to enter the political process. But the details of such a differentiation are still the main obstacle to the agreement.

Washington and Moscow could reach an agreement, but numerous opposition groups involved in the Syrian conflict should agree with the content of the deal to make it effective.

Earlier in the month, the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee (HNC) confirmed to Sputnik that it had received a letter from US envoy on Syria Michael Ratney outlining conditions for a possible US-Russia agreement on Syria.

However, media reported that the HNC voiced an opinion that it would possibly oppose the agreement if it contradicted the views of the Syrians on the issue.

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