(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov stressed Tuesday the necessity to put an end to the Syrian crisis based on the Geneva I document, however they expressed different views on the fate of President Bashar Al-Assad. In a joint press conference with Lavrov, al-Jubeir affirmed Saudi Arabia's stance calling for putting an end to the crisis in accordance with the Geneva I document, forming a transitional council and ousting of Al-Assad.
"Al-Assad must step down either through political settlement or military force as he lost his legitimacy" al-Jubeir said. The Saudi official rejected participation of the Syrian regime in forming a wider front against terrorism, noting at the same time that his country is part of the US-led coalition combating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
"Saudi Arabia is participating in airstrikes that target ISIL in Syria," he made clear.
Al-Jubeir stressed the importance of unifying the Syrian opposition in order to crystalize a constructive stance to achieve a political settlement in the country.
On Iraq, he called for implementing necessarily political reforms programs and involving all sects in the process of political participation in that Arab country.
As for Yemen, al-Jubeir underlined the need to implement the UN Security Council resolution 2216, noting that his country will deal with Russia in addressing the humanitarian disaster there.
He expressed appreciation of Arab countries to the Russian stance that supports the rights of Palestinians, and underlines the necessity of achieving a settlement based on establishing a Palestinian state living side by side in peace side with Israel.
The Saudi top diplomat said that the visit of Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Moscow last June contributed to setting up solid bases of bilateral relations, expressing the desire of his country to promote relations with Russia in all fields.
Al-Jubeir said that he held "fruitful, frank and inclusive" talks with Lavrov on all issues, in spite of having different views regarding the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
On his part, Lavrov admitted that Moscow and Riyadh have persistent differences on the fate of Al-Assad, urging any party not to oust him by force as this, he thinks, will help ISIL take over the power there.
He said ISIL poses a threat to all countries in the region, but not Al-Assad.
He reaffirmed the need to achieve a Syrian settlement based on the Geneva I document, saying Syrians themselves should make this move, including the determination of Al-Assad's fate.
He denied that there is a preparation for holding a third conference on Syria, revealing that some opposition leaders will hold talks separately with the Russian side soon.
On combating terrorism, Lavrov called for unifying efforts of all forces taking part in the campaign against ISIL in order to achieve tangible results in this regard.
As for regional issues, he said that he briefed the Saudi official on outcome of meetings with representatives of Yemen parties, stressing the need to continue negotiations so as to reach a settlement in that Arab country.
He added his talks with al-Jubeir focused also on the developments in Libya, Iraq and the Gulf region in light of the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the six world powers in Vienna on July 14.
He hoped that the agreement would contribute to holding talks between the GCC countries and Tehran.
On Palestine, The Russian top diplomat said that he and his Saudi counterpart shared the same view on the stalled Middle East peace process, referring the need to resume negotiations and involve Arab League in the efforts by the quartet committee to achieve settlement based on the Arab Peace Initiative. He renewed the invitation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to visit Moscow, expressing his belief that the visit will promote relations in all fields.
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