MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold meetings with the foreign ministers of Jordan and Austria next week, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
"The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Mr. [Nasser] Judeh will pay a working visit to Moscow on January 16, his negotiations with Sergei Lavrov will take place," Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.
During negotiations, the sides will discuss relevant issues of the international and regional agenda "in the context of the numerous conflict situations that the Middle Eastern region is experiencing," she said.
The main focus is expected to be placed on Syrian issues. "Like our Jordanian partners, we proceed from the absence of alternatives to a political resolution to the prolonged crisis in Syria by the Syrians themselves without preconditions and with active international assistance," Zakharova said.
Another key issue for discussion will be the situation in Iraq. "We are united by a common vision of a solution to Iraqi issues by means of a full-scale dialogue with participation of all confessional groups of the country," she said.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Jordan will also discuss the topic of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement and the most relevant issues of development of "traditionally friendly" Russian-Jordanian relations, Zakharova said.
Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Foreign Affairs and Integration Sebastian Kurz will pay a visit to Moscow on January 17-18. "There are plans to discuss relevant issues of the bilateral agenda, including a schedule of upcoming inter-parliamentary, inter-agency and inter-regional contacts, as well as political, trade and economic ties, during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov scheduled for January 18," Zakharova said.
In particular, the sides will discuss the conduct of the bilateral Russia-Austria year of tourism and issues of cooperation at the platform of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Particular attention will be devoted to the fight against terrorism, as well as relations between Russia and the European Union.