Russia, US Begin Consultations on Joint Anti-Terrorism Efforts in Syria

GENEVA-Russia and the United States began consultations on joint struggle against terrorist groups in Syria following the agreements reached during the recent visit to Russia by US Secretary of State John Kerry, a well-informed diplomatic source told TASS news agency.

“Under the agreements, which had been reached as a result of contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with John Kerry, the Russian and American delegations started consultations in Geneva to discuss joint struggle against [Jebhat al-Nusra] and the [Islamic State] (both banned in Russia) as well as other terrorist groups operating in the Syrian territory,” the source said.

 A Russian Foreign Ministry source told TASS earlier on Wednesday that military and political experts would start intensive work to develop the agreements reached during John Kerry’s visit to Moscow.

US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Moscow on July 14-15. He was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin and held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. After the ministerial meeting, the sides said they had agreed on concrete steps to make the work on Syria more effective.

Itar Tass

H.M