Recent weeks have seen a series of intensive contacts on the international scene about the Syrian crisis, including meetings between Western officials and the Syrian opposition; Russian contacts with the Syrian regime (including a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Muallem to Russia) and with the leaders of the Syrian opposition; and a series of high level Russian-American contacts, including a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry. Presidents Putin and Obama, who have recently spoken on the phone, are expected to meet in the near future. In addition, messages to the effect that both sides are working to promote a settlement in Syria have been disseminated of late, and there are new American decisions on limited cooperation with the Syrian opposition.
