Russian official’s meeting with UN envoy focusses on Syria’s lasting settlement

MOSCOW, July 9. /TASS/. Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Syria Staffan de Mistura said at a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov that he is focused on intensive work with the aim to launch an intra-Syrian political process as soon as possible, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday following the meeting held in New York. "A substantial conversation seeking for ways to reach lasting political settlement in Syria has been held," the Russian foreign ministry said. "The sides have shared concurrent views on the lack of options but for resolving the crisis through political and diplomatic means on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012." Gatilov hailed "de Mistura’s energetic efforts, including his consultations will all the sides involved." "[The two men] paid special attention to the need of putting the regional and international cooperation on track aiming to counter the expanding terrorist threat," the ministry said. "Staffan de Mistura shared these assessments in full, noting that he means to carry out intensive work with the aim to launch the intra-Syrian political process with an international support as soon as possible," it said. The sides voiced their concerns over deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria and underscored the need to activate efforts for providing assistance to the country’s civilian population," the Russian foreign ministry said.

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