Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Thursday. The parties intend to discuss the full range of issues of the Syrian settlement.
Lavrov and Pedersen previously met on February 27, when they discussed humanitarian aid to Syria, including the aftermath of the earthquake in early February. Their meeting also focused on the need to lift all illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria, which impede humanitarian efforts and have a negative impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
The current talks follow a four-party meeting of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey at the level of foreign ministers on the Syrian peace settlement, which took place on May 10 in Moscow. Back then, the ministers agreed to task their deputies to prepare a roadmap for developing relations between Damascus and Ankara. Therefore, Lavrov and Pedersen are likely to discuss this issue.
On the eve of the meeting, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the meeting will also discuss promoting the political process in Syria with the UN support and providing comprehensive humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2254, 2672.
Lavrov and Pedersen are likely to continue discussing aid to the Arab republic after the earthquake. The Russian foreign minister previously pointed out that illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and its Western allies are blocking international humanitarian aid to Syria, including through the UN.
Facilitating the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is a key principle for Moscow, Damascus, Ankara and Tehran, Lavrov said earlier. It is expected that during the talks with Pedersen the Russian minister will touch upon this topic, the work in the Astana format on Syria, as well as the prospects of negotiations of the Syrian opposition with Damascus in view of Syria's return to the Arab League.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS