Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th September, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
"The officials exchanged views on the most current matters concerning UN activity, as well as some issues on the international agenda, including the developments in Syria and Ukraine. They discussed practical steps to improve the efficiency of joint efforts in peacemaking, peaceful settlement of crises, as well as increasing the role of the UN and its Security Council in this process," the ministry said in a statement.
The parties agreed that progress in conflict settlement depended on the readiness of the UN member states to take consolidated steps based on international law, the ministry added.
The situation in Syria became one of the main topics of discussion organized by the European Union on the UN General Assembly sidelines. Russia was represented by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, who stressed Moscow's commitment to settling the Syrian conflict under the UN aegis and continuing peace efforts in the Astana format, according to the ministry.
The diplomat also highlighted the need to assist Syria in restoring infrastructure and refugee repatriation, the ministry concluded.
The 73rd session of the UN General Assembly started on September 18 in the General Assembly Hall in New York under the presidency of Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Maria Espinosa Garces. The forum unites all 193 UN member states to discuss and work together on a wide array of international issues covered by the UN Charter, such as development, international law, peace and security, and pressing issues on the international agenda.
