Obama, Cameron to discuss Syria crisis Monday

The situation in Syria and preparations for a G8 summit will be the main subjects of discussion during a meeting between US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron here on Monday. According to the White House information, the President expects to discuss the situation in Syria, trade-and-economic cooperation, counterterrorism, as well as priorities of the forthcoming G8 summit which is due to be held in Northern Ireland in June. Mr. Cameron arrives in the USA after his visit to Russia. Last Friday he held talks in Sochi wit RF President Vladimir Putin. The sides discussed practical steps towards settling the Syrian crisis. While in the American capital, the UK Premier is to fix terms for the convocation of an international conference on Syria. Understanding on the need to hold such a conference was reached on May 7 in Moscow during the talks between Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry. RF presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said, "Mr. Cameron will discuss the matter in Washington on Monday. We shall await signals after his talks with US President Barack Obama. We are ready jointly to help the matter forward". Ushakov said the point now is also to determine a format for an international conference on Syria. "It is essential to fix where and when (it will be held), a circle of negotiators, and ponder over possible positive solutions," Ushakov added. The armed confronation between the army and the insurgents has been going on in Syria since March 2011. Over 70,000 people have already fallen victim to the conflict which is accompanied with a serious humanitarian crisis: according to UN data, over five million people badly need food, prime necessities, and medical services. The number of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries has risen to one million.