Russia: Saudi and Russian FMs stress common ground on Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir discussed the Syrian conflict during a press conference, following a meeting with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Moscow, Thursday.
Lavrov underscored that "the fate of Syria should only be determined by the Syrian people" but that elections should take place "under strict and close international control."
Lavrov and Al-Jubeir spoke of the necessity of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254 for establishing peace in Syria. Lavrov said the implementation of that resolution, including adopting a new constitution and holding elections, would likely take "approximately 18 months."
Al-Jubeir claimed that "a number of countries of the Vienna Group" have some disagreements with Russia "on the issue of members of the delegation at the Syrian talks." He said Saudi Arabia believes "the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people at the talks should be the Riyadh Group [of the opposition]."
The last round of peace talks on the Syrian crisis took place in April in Geneva and was marked by the early departure of the opposition delegation, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC).