DHAKA: US Secretary of State John Kerry has described as “constructive” talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on securing Syria’s chemical weapons.

The two men began a second day of talks in Geneva by meeting UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to discuss the wider issue of peace in Syria.

Talks between Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov on the weapons issue began on Thursday and could continue over the weekend.

Kerry said they were working hard to find “common ground”.

The BBC’s Paul Adams in Geneva says both men are talking in positive terms about their meetings, but they still have huge obstacles to overcome.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called Damascus’s decision to join the Chemical Weapons Convention “an important step towards the resolution of the Syrian crisis.”

He also said it showed the “serious intention” of President Assad “to follow this path”.

The leaders of Syria’s other key allies, China and Iran - meeting at a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan - also welcomed President Assad’s move.

But Syrian rebels say it will not stop the killing. Free Syrian Army spokesperson Louay Moqdad told the BBC Assad still has plenty of conventional weapons at his disposal and he is attempting to “buy time” with the help of the Russians.

Source: bbc
BDST: 2017 HRS, SEP 13, 2013
SR/RIS