Lavrov, Kerry call on de Mistura to announce date of intra-Syrian talk

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary ofState John Kerry held a phone talk on January 25, agreeing that UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura should hastily announce the date ofintra-Syrian peace negotiations inGeneva, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Armenpress” reports the aforementioned, referring to sputnik International.

"The minister and the state secretary called onUN's Special Envoy de Mistura tohastily announce the start date ofintra-Syrian negotiations," the ministry said ina statement.

Lavrov also underscored the importance ofcreating a united front againstterrorism and work outpolitical reforms inSyria based onagreements betweenthe country's government and opposition.

The phone talk was initiated byWashington.

January 25 was initially set asthe target day forthe first roundof intra-Syrian talks, withJanuary 27 later offered asa possible date ofthe first sit-down.

The UN Office inGeneva announced onJanuary 22 the much-anticipated talks were likely tobe postponed fora few days.

The followingday, Lavrov held phone talks withKerry. Both diplomats agreed the intra-Syria talks should not be postponed beyondJanuary, despitepressure fromvarious opposition members tostonewall the negotiations.