New US special envoy for Syria could continue trips to Russia

WASHINGTON, August 28. /TASS/. Washington is not ruling out that the new US special envoy for Syria Michael Ratney, who is arriving Friday for talks in Moscow, could pay further working visits to Russia, a State Department official has told TASS. The United States is committed to ensuring the political shift to new authorities in Damascus, the diplomat said, adding that Ratney is expected to continue to work on this issue as part of a "new initiative." On Friday, Ratney is scheduled to hold a meeting with Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said earlier. After visiting Moscow, the US special envoy for Syria is expected to go to Saudi Arabia on August 29. He will then hold consultations in Geneva with UN Special Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. Ratney was appointed as US special envoy for Syria at the end of July. Read more