Lavrov calls on security council to condemn terrorist acts in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed the necessity for the Security Council to condemn the terrorist acts taking place in Syria so as to unify efforts and stances in combating terrorism. Lavrov told a press conference held jointly with Ghana's Foreign Minister that Russia is waiting a respond from the "Syrian opposition" to participate in the international conference due to be held in Syria, SANA reported. He noted that Russia will continue the calls on the "Syrian opposition" to sit at the negotiating table. Russian-UN talks Thursday to discuss holding international conference on Syria The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier announced that Foreign Minister Lavrov will hold talks with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday during which he will discuss the issue of holding the international conference on Syria. The Ministry clarified in a statement that the talks with Ki-moon in which "some most urgent international issues" will be discussed will take place in the framework of Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's visit to the US who are meeting their counterparts in New York. The statement pointed out that talks regarding Syria will focus on the prospects of settling the situation in it in the framework of the Russian-US initiative on convening an international conference to find a solution to the crisis. Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said  in a press release that the disunion of the Syrian opposition is the main reason hindering the efforts to hold the international conference on Syria. Churkin hoped that the conference will be held before the upcoming session of the General Assembly scheduled next September.