Zarif, Lavrov discuss Syrian situation

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to exchange views on Syria just ahead of Lausanne round of Syrian talks. Zarif is in Lausanne, Switzerland, the venue for the latest round of Syrian talks which brings diplomats from different countries to address the dire situation in Syrian crisis. Russia and Iran had been among the supporters of Syria's legitimate government vis-à-vis international terrorism spearheaded by ISIL and Fath al-Sham Front (newly self-styled name for Al-Nusra Front), proxies of the Arab states notably Saudi Arabia. Still in a related story, Zarif’s deputy for Arab and African Affairs Mr. Hossein Jaberi Ansari opened a phone call to Syria’s Deputy FM Faisal Mekdad, to seek coordination of the country on talks. Lausanne round of Syrian talks will start today with Zarif participating along with other envoys from the US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Persian Gulf Arab states. International efforts have come to a stalemate with several ceasefires, commissioned by the US and Russia, coming to nothing; analysts as well as Russia’s Lavrov invest little hopes to Lausanne round, foreshadowing a general disintegration of the efforts to settle the Syrian crisis.