The meeting of US President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov lasted for about 40 minutes.
WASHINGTON, May 10. /TASS/. Before meeting with Donald Trump, Sergey Lavrov held talks with the US top diplomat Rex Tillerson.
Lavrov's
talks with the US president lasted for about 40 minutes behind closed doors.
Russia-US relations
Moscow and
Washington can and should solve global issues together, Lavrov said
following his meetings with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US
President Donald Trump.
"I had
a bilateral meeting with Rex Tillerson, then the two of us were received by
President Trump," the Russian top diplomat said. "We discussed, first
and foremost, our cooperation on the international stage."
"At present, our dialogue is not as politicized as it used to be during Obama’s presidency. The Trump administration, including the president himself and the secretary of state, are people of action who are willing to negotiate," the Russian top diplomat pointed out.
Lavrov
said agreement reached with Tillerson to continue using diplomatic channel
to discuss Russian-US relations.
According
to Lavrov, the current state of bilateral relations is no cause for joy.
"The reason why our relations deteriorated to this state is no
secret," the Russian top diplomat added. "Unfortunately, the previous
(US) administration did everything possible to undermine the basis of our
relations so now we have to start from a very low level."
"President
Trump has clarified his interest in building mutually beneficial and practical
relations, as well as in solving issues," Lavrov pointed out. "This
is very important," he said.
Seizure of
Russia’s diplomatic property in the United States is illegitimate and
Washington realizes this, Lavrov said.
"It is
a specific issue," he said adding the US "does not deny it is
ours." Besides, everyone realizes that "those actions were
illegitimate," Lavrov added.
De-escalation zones in Syria
Lavrov
believes Syria has areas where US might contribute to operation of
de-escalation zones. "We are ready for this cooperation and today
have discussed in detail the steps and mechanisms which we can manage
together," Lavrov said.
"We
have confirmed our interest in the US’ most active role in those issues,"
Lavrov said. "I imagine the Americans are interested in this too."
"We
proceed from the fact they will take up the initiative," he added.
"We have thoroughly discussed the Syrian issue, particularly the ideas
related to setting up de-escalation zones," the Russian top diplomat said.
"We share an understanding that this should become a common step aimed at
putting an end to violence across Syria," he added.
Lavrov
said Russia and the US share understanding of Syrian de-escalation zones’
geography.
"At the current stage, we agree on the concept and even on practical steps concerning the geography of the de-escalation zones," the Russian top diplomat said. "The memorandum signed in Astana outlines further steps that would help the stakeholders come to terms on who and how will ensure the safety areas surrounding the de-escalation zones."
Russia is
ready to cooperate with the US in setting up de-escalation zones in Syria,
Lavrov stressed.
"President
Trump has reiterated that defeating terrorism is the United States’ main
priority as far as Syria is concerned. We see eye to eye here," Lavrov
said.
"We
have agreed we will be working together in the format of Astana (talks) which
the United States attends as an observer," Lavrov said. "We have
praised the constructive contribution the US made at the last meeting."
"We
will be cooperating in the format of the Geneva process which, according to (UN
Special Envoy for Syria) Staffan de Mistura, will be resumed the very next
week," he said.
Anti-Russian sanctions
Lavrov said
the issue of anti-Russian sanctions was not discussed at the talks.
"We
did not discuss the sanctions. This is not our problem, these are unilateral
actions that were taken against us," the foreign minister said.
Lavrov
noted Russia would prefer not to use the right to retaliate for US
sanctions imposed by Obama's administration in December 2016.
According
to Lavrov, the talks mentioned the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, the
situation in Afghanistan, and also the fulfillment of the Minsk accords on the
political settlement in east Ukraine.
"We
agreed to continue working contacts on these issues and look for ways to bring
closer the positions of all the parties concerned," the Russian foreign
minister said.
Source: ITAR-TASS 11-05-2017
