Putin calls Assad on Geneva-2, chemical weapons destruction

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held telephone talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and discussed Geneva peace conference, progress in chemical weapons destruction and humanitarian situation in Syria, the Kremlin press service reported.

Putin and Assad "discussed the work on putting chemical weapons in Syria under international control and disposing of them. The Russian president expressed his satisfaction with interaction that has been arranged between the Syrian authorities and an OPCW-UN mission," it said.

"Putin highlighted the efforts Russia is making along with its partners to prepare the Geneva-2 international conference and welcomed Assad's willingness to send a Syrian governmental delegation to this event. The hope was expressed that the principal groups of the opposition forces will take a constructive approach and attend the conference," it said.

The two leaders attached special significance to the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Putin said he was concerned about reports on persecutions of Chirisrian and other religious minorities in Syria, said Kremlin press service.

He said Russia hopes the Syrian government "will do everything possible to relieve the suffering of the civilian population and to restore the peace."

Assad thanked the Russian government for "aiding the Syrian people," and the two presidents confirmed they intend to foster bilateral relations further.