Lavrov Urges Syria Peace Talks As Soon As Possible

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued a new call on Monday for the Syrian government and opposition to work together to expel all "terrorists and extremists from Syria", Russian news agencies reported.

At the start of talks with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Qadri Jamil, Lavrov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency that last month's agreement in Northern Ireland for the two sides to work together to expel the "terrorists and extremists" should "become one of the main points of the proposed international [peace] conference".

"To our regret, unlike the government of Syria, a significant part of the opposition, including the National Council, has not expressed such readiness yet."

For his part, Jamil revealed that Russia and Syria are discussing the possibility of Moscow extending a loan to Damascus to help Syria's economy.
The official clarified that the issue was discussed at talks with Lavrov and Damascus hoped for an agreement by the end of the year. "We discussed it, although it is still early to talk in concrete figures," Jamil said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The Syrian official added that all agreements for Russia's controversial contract to deliver S-300 missile systems to Damascus were still in place.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team