Russia, Turkey discuss Syrian Congress

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu have dwelled upon preparations for a Syria peace congress in the Russian city of Sochi on Jan 29-30, confirmed the Russian foreign ministry on Sunday.

The two ministers had a telephonic conversation on Saturday, which was requested by the Turkish side.

"On 27January 2018, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation S.V. [Sergei] Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu had a phone conversation requested by the Turkish side," the Russian news agency TASS, quoted, the ministry as saying, on its Facebook page.

"In the context of preparations for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi on January 29-30, 2018, the ministers shared views on final aspects of organizing and holding the given event," it added.

The Syrian National Dialogue Congress is due to take place in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi on January 29-30. The peace conference is likely to bring together about 1,500 participants from the entire spectrum of Syria's political forces, the report said.

Earlier in November, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, "The congress will look at the key questions on Syria's national agenda including working out a political organization and the endorsement of a new constitution" and "the organization of the new elections under the auspices of the UN.