Kerry traveling to Russia to discuss Syrian crisis

PanARMENIAN.Net - Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling to Russia on Monday, May 11, to meet with President Vladimir Putin and discuss whether it is possible for the two sides to work together on a political solution for the conflict in Syria, American officials said, according to the New York Times.

The meeting, which will be held on Tuesday in the Black Sea city of Sochi, represents a fresh attempt by the Obama administration to pursue a political solution to Syria after years of frustrated diplomacy and deepening violence there.

“This trip is part of our ongoing effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure U.S. views are clearly conveyed,” said the State Department, which added that the subjects will include “a full range of bilateral and regional issues, including Iran, Syria and Ukraine.”

Two rounds of talks on the Syria crisis that Russia hosted in Moscow this year made no headway when the Assad government officials showed no flexibility and members of the moderate Syrian opposition refused to attend.

Kerry’s visit to Sochi will not last long. After meeting with Putin on Tuesday, Kerry will travel to Turkey later in the day for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. By Wednesday night, Kerry is scheduled to be back in the United States for President Obama’s Camp David meeting with Saudi and other Gulf state diplomats.