Foreign ministers of US, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and UAE holding coordination meeting ahead of broad ministerial consultations

VIENNA, October 30. /TASS/. The foreign ministers of US, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are holding a coordination meeting in Vienna ahead of broad consultations on Syria with participation of all key players. The foreign ministers have arrived in Vienna in the morning. The broad consultations are expected to start at 11:30am. Before the coordination meeting, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that he thinks that Syrian President Bashar Assad has no place in Syria’s future. "Bashar Assad, as a person responsible the most for the Syrian drama, cannot have a place in Syria’s future," he said. Fabius added that "important changes are needed" to end the war and free Syria. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steimeneier said that the result can be reached if all interested parties will be able to agree. "Diplomatic efforts can be successful if everyone is ready to contribute to the settlement of the conflict," he said. Steinmeier said that the first step toward political settlement may be made during at the broad consultations today. "It [the settlement] is far from now, but the first step is important," he noted. The broad ministerial meeting on Syria on Friday will bring together representatives of 13 countries - Russia, US, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Germany, France, Egypt, Italy and Great Britain. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will also take part in the meeting. Read more