WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday said that President Barack Obama believes that holding military talks with Russia on Syria was an important next step and hoped they will take place soon.
At a meeting in London with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, Kerry said the US president hoped that talks would help define some of the different options available to them as they consider next steps in Syria.
“Our focus remains on destroying ISIL (Islamic State militants) and also on a political settlement with respect to Syria, which we believe cannot be achieved with the long term presence of President Bashar al- Assad,” Kerry added.
