Lavrov, Kerry discuss preparation of international conference on Syria

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, July 24, to discuss the preparation of an international conference on Syria. The ministers discussed “bilateral relations and the preparation of an international conference on the political settlement in Syria,” the Foreign Ministry said. At their talks in Moscow on May 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to hold an international conference on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012, in order to try to overcome the crisis in Syria. Lavrov and Kerry said that their countries would encourage both the Syrian government and opposition groups to look for a political solution.