Kerry to Putin: N. open the question of who will rule in Syria
The US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is paying an official visit to Moscow, today acknowledged the talks of the Russian President Vladimir Putin that thanks to the joint efforts of both countries some progress has been achieved in the war in Syria, stressing however that the time has come to discuss the issue of who will in future govern this country.
Peace talks in Geneva between representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition seems to have stalled and Washington believes that Russia, which is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime can exert pressure on Damascus to make concessions.
Kerry arrived in Moscow ten days after President Putin announced that he would withdraw the bulk of Russian military forces from Syria, a decision which the West sees as a great opportunity to move the peace talks.
"I know you have ideas that you have already taken a very critical decision regarding the withdrawal of your forces from Syria and obviously we have also some ideas on how to achieve effective progress in Geneva (en peace talks ) and start this very serious and difficult work of the (political) transition, "Kerry told Putin at the meeting were the Kremlin.
The atmosphere at this meeting was less "cold" from previous contacts of the two men. Both acknowledged that their joint efforts have brought progress to some extent, notably through the implementation of the fragile ceasefire.
"We understand that what we managed to achieve in Syria only became possible thanks to the attitude of the highest US political leadership, President Obama. I hope that your visit will allow us to approach our positions and move forward in resolving crises in Syria and Ukraine, "Putin said.
The Russian president did not hesitate at the beginning of the talks, joking with Kerry on the fact that the minister himself was carrying his bags get off the plane. "On the one hand, is a very democratic attitude, but then again, I thought: the situation in the US is probably not very good if there is no one to help him Foreign Minister to carry his suitcase," Putin said, to the amazement Kerry, and continued: "But your economy is doing well, you no longer recession ... Surely there is something valuable in this suitcase, something that you can not trust anyone else ... Bring money to bargain better together us;" He said, provoking laughter of bystanders.
Kerry not intimidated and answered "challenge" in the same tone: "When left alone I'll show you what's in my suitcase. You will be surprised ... pleasantly!" He said, however without revealing what is in his luggage.
What is certain is that the US Treasury not donated a guitar to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for his birthday - turned 66 on 21 March. The spokesman Maria Sakharov Ministry, on the occasion of the rumors circulated in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that the guitar saw some people coming off the plane upon arrival Kerry "in the hands of a member of the American delegation" were not birthday gifts. "We are bombarded with questions about whether it was a gift for the birthday of Lavrov. It was not. It's personal guitar Kerry travels with him around the world," the spokesman said.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is paying an official visit to Moscow, today acknowledged the talks of the Russian President Vladimir Putin that thanks to the joint efforts of both countries some progress has been achieved in the war in Syria, stressing however that the time has come to discuss the issue of who will in future govern this country.
Peace talks in Geneva between representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition seems to have stalled and Washington believes that Russia, which is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime can exert pressure on Damascus to make concessions.
Kerry arrived in Moscow ten days after President Putin announced that he would withdraw the bulk of Russian military forces from Syria, a decision which the West sees as a great opportunity to move the peace talks.
"I know you have ideas that you have already taken a very critical decision regarding the withdrawal of your forces from Syria and obviously we have also some ideas on how to achieve effective progress in Geneva (en peace talks ) and start this very serious and difficult work of the (political) transition, "Kerry told Putin at the meeting were the Kremlin.
The atmosphere at this meeting was less "cold" from previous contacts of the two men. Both acknowledged that their joint efforts have brought progress to some extent, notably through the implementation of the fragile ceasefire.
"We understand that what we managed to achieve in Syria only became possible thanks to the attitude of the highest US political leadership, President Obama. I hope that your visit will allow us to approach our positions and move forward in resolving crises in Syria and Ukraine, "Putin said.
The Russian president did not hesitate at the beginning of the talks, joking with Kerry on the fact that the minister himself was carrying his bags get off the plane. "On the one hand, is a very democratic attitude, but then again, I thought: the situation in the US is probably not very good if there is no one to help him Foreign Minister to carry his suitcase," Putin said, to the amazement Kerry, and continued: "But your economy is doing well, you no longer recession ... Surely there is something valuable in this suitcase, something that you can not trust anyone else ... Bring money to bargain better together us;" He said, provoking laughter of bystanders.
Kerry not intimidated and answered "challenge" in the same tone: "When left alone I'll show you what's in my suitcase. You will be surprised ... pleasantly!" He said, however without revealing what is in his luggage.
What is certain is that the US Treasury not donated a guitar to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for his birthday - turned 66 on 21 March. The spokesman Maria Sakharov Ministry, on the occasion of the rumors circulated in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that the guitar saw some people coming off the plane upon arrival Kerry "in the hands of a member of the American delegation" were not birthday gifts. "We are bombarded with questions about whether it was a gift for the birthday of Lavrov. It was not. It's personal guitar Kerry travels with him around the world," the spokesman said.
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