Russian and Qatari FMs to Discuss Syrian Crisis Settlement

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Qatari counterpart Khalid Bin Mohammed Attiyah will discuss Syrian crisis settlement and regional developments on December 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

 

Lavrov

 

“The talks will allow to ‘compare notes’ on key aspects of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, with an emphasis on the search for a political solution to the existing crises with the support of international law, on the basis of broad national dialogue and without external dictate,” the ministry said in a press statement.

 

The diplomats will review in detail further efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict through the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and the UN Security Council session on Friday that approved a resolution upholding prior commitments to a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict, the ministry said.

 

Khalid Bin Mohammed Attiyah

 

“We additionally continue to view as an absolute priority the creation of a broad international coalition in the fight against ISIL [Islamic State or Daesh in Arabic] and other terrorist groups in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq,” it reaffirmed.

 

Reinforcing political coordination within the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council strategic dialogue, including its ministerial session planned to take place in Moscow next year, also features on the agenda for Lavrov’s talks with Attiyah.