Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday welcomed the start of UN-sponsored Syria peace talks in Geneva, saying efforts to resolve the conflict were entering a crucial time, AFP reports.
"Regarding Syria talks, this period is decisive," Lavrov said at a press conference in Abu Dhabi with Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
In remarks translated into Arabic, Lavrov said the talks needed to be "comprehensive" and to aim for "reaching common ground between the government and the opposition".