Russia and US Agree Syria Peace Conference Should Take Place 'Sooner Rather Than Later'

Still no date set

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI | Secretary of State John Kerry said that the U.S. and Russia agree that peace talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition should take place "sooner rather than later" but have not yet been able to set a date.

Speaking after a nearly two-hour long meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kerry said that the two had narrowed down options but the actual negotiations could not begin until after August due to scheduling difficulties.

"We have a two plus two meeting between Russia and the United States in July; and obviously August is very difficult for Europeans and others. So it may be somewhere thereafter," he told reporters traveling with him to the Asian Sultanate of Brunei. The latter mention was an apparent reference to the tendency of Europeans to vacation in the month of August.