Moscow is grateful to Bern for assisting Syrian political settlement - Lavrov

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Russia is grateful to Switzerland for its efforts to assist numerous forms of international support for the intra-Syrian dialogue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday after talks with his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter. "Of course, we discussed the situation in Syria," the minister said. "We are grateful to Switzerland for assistance to numerous forms of international support for the intra-Syrian dialogue, including the provision by Geneva of a venue for the start of the intra-Syrian talks to be held between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the opposition. Special efforts by the UN representatives with the support of the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group represented by Russia and the United States are currently being taken to this end." The Intra-Syrian talks resumed in Geneva on March 14-24, after the UN Special Envoy for Syria suspended the round that lasted from 29 January to 3 February, in view of continuing violence and lack of humanitarian relief on the ground. The United Nations envoy said in early April the Geneva talks are planned to be resumed on April 13. Participants will begin to arrive in Geneva from April 11. The government delegation is expected to arrive on April 14 or 15. The previous round of the indirect intra-Syrian talks was held in Geneva on March 14 through 24. Read more