Clinton, Lavrov Meet Ahead Of Geneva Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Washington in April

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have held talks on Syria ahead of an international conference on June 30 in Geneva.

Clinton and Lavrov met for about an hour on June 29 in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Lavrov told the media afterward that the two "are agreeing on most things."

Washington wants Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave power, while Russia opposes what it calls "external meddling" in Syrian affairs.

The United States, Russia, and other world powers are gathering in Geneva on June 30.

UN-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan wants them to agree on a peace plan, which includes the formation of a transitional Syrian government bringing together opposition supporters and government members.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters