MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia and Germany agree that Syria should become a united secular state that protects the interests of all ethnic groups, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Wednesday.
"After all, we agreed in Vienna about this as well, having reinforced the agreement in Munich. We should reach the deal on a united secular state in Syria, in which all the ethnicities could live in peace," Steinmeier said at the joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In late October, the participants of the two-day talks in Vienna on the Syrian settlement reached mutual understanding on the country’s unity, the need to defeat extremist groups, and helping refugees, as well as on the fact that the Syrian people must decide the future of their state.
According to the meeting's final communique, Syria’s unity, independence, territorial integrity, and secular character are fundamental.
