PARIS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has reiterated "the emergency" to find a political solution to the Syrian civil war within the framework of the United Nations.
According to a statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry on Friday, Ayrault told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov via telephone all the efforts to seek a political solution are welcome, provided that they are within the UN framework and that the Syrian opposition is represented in peace talks.
Speaking about the conference on Middle East conflict, scheduled for January 15, the two officials stressed the need to energize diplomatic efforts to implement the two-state solution to end hostilities between Palestinians and Israeli forces, the statement added.
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Syria talks to kick off in Kazakhstan's Astana on Jan. 23: UN special envoy
GENEVA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian and Turkish-backed Syria talks to take place in the Kazakh capital of Astana are expected to start on Jan. 23, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told Xinhua Friday, adding that negotiations could cement a fragile ceasefire in place in the war-torn country since last week.
"Astana is an important opportunity and that's why both China and the UN support this initiative. We are looking forward in Astana to seeing the consolidation of the cessation of hostilities," Staffan de Mistura said. Full Story
