Geneva 2 may be held in 2nd week of November

Kerry said that the final date for the conference should be set by the United Nations, in particular, by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN/LAS special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi.

"We agreed again there is no military solution here and we share an interest in not having radical extremists on either side assuming a greater position in Syria, and that is why we re-committed today very specific efforts to move the Geneva process as rapidly as possible," Kerry said. He said both sides would seek to "lay the groundwork for a round of talks."

"It is our mutual hope that that can happen in November and we are both intent and determined in consultations with our friends in these efforts to try to make certain this can happen in November," Kerry said, adding: "A final date and terms of participation will have to be determined by the United Nations."

"John Kerry and I have generally confirmed our determination today to do everything possible to facilitate the efforts to fight terrorism and extremism in Syria," Russia's Foreign Minister said. According to Lavrov, it is necessary to help those who see Syria's future as a multi-confessional state, Itar-Tass reports.