Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad the settlement of the crisis in Syria with an emphasis on the Astana format. The parties noted the positive dynamics in the restoration of Syria's ties with the Arab states on the eve of the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia.
They stressed the need for international assistance to Damascus in overcoming the consequences of the recent earthquake. The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey, Sergey Lavrov, Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Mevlut Cavusoglu, earlier concluded talks in Moscow. They lasted about three hours.