Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed Thursday with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the situation in Syria.
“The interest will be focused on resolving the crisis in Syria and the initiatives taken in the framework of Astana process in line with Resolution 2254,” Lavrov said following his meeting with Zarif in Moscow.
The Russian minister stressed that launching the Syrian constitutional committee does not constitute a substitute for the political process and the implementation of 2254.
"We confirmed our willingness to continue close cooperation in the Russia-Iran-Turkey format, which includes support for the processes of political settlement within the framework of the meeting of the constitutional committee in Geneva," he said.
Zarif said the Syrian war needs special coordination.
The Syrian conflict “requires special coordination between Iran and Russia, and we also need to coordinate with Turkey in the framework of the Astana process,” he said.
In 2017, Russia, Turkey and Iran initiated a process of peace talks in Astana (now Nur-Sultan), involving the government and a delegation of the Syrian opposition.
Separately, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Gennadiy Gatilov, told Sputnik on Thursday that the next session of Syria's constitutional committee could be held in October, adding that the exact date will depend on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee has recently convened for negotiations. “It was quite a success, as there were contacts, the sides discussed the agenda, and it was agreed that the next session would be held approximately in October,” he said.
According to the Russian diplomat, the date will depend on many factors, including the pandemic.
