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| US Secretary of State John Kerry on first official trip | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| John Kerry has set off for his first foreign trip as US secretary of state, with the Syrian conflict high on his agenda in Europe and the Middle East. | John Kerry has set off for his first foreign trip as US secretary of state, with the Syrian conflict high on his agenda in Europe and the Middle East. |
| Mr Kerry is expected in London on Sunday. He will visit nine countries, including France, Turkey and Egypt. | Mr Kerry is expected in London on Sunday. He will visit nine countries, including France, Turkey and Egypt. |
| In Berlin, he will meet Syrian opposition members and representatives of nations supporting them. | In Berlin, he will meet Syrian opposition members and representatives of nations supporting them. |
| Mr Kerry has said he plans to use the trip to propose ideas on persuading the Syrian president to step aside. | Mr Kerry has said he plans to use the trip to propose ideas on persuading the Syrian president to step aside. |
| While in Berlin, he will also meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, at a time when relations between the US and Russia are cool. | While in Berlin, he will also meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, at a time when relations between the US and Russia are cool. |
| Familiar field | Familiar field |
| The US has sought Russia's backing to convince the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he is isolated internationally. | The US has sought Russia's backing to convince the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he is isolated internationally. |
| The former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate is no stranger to foreign affairs, having spent almost three decades in the US senate as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. | The former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate is no stranger to foreign affairs, having spent almost three decades in the US senate as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
| Mr Kerry's schedule includes meetings foreign ministers and leaders in European capitals including Paris, Rome and Ankara before a tour of the Middle Eastern cities including Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. | Mr Kerry's schedule includes meetings foreign ministers and leaders in European capitals including Paris, Rome and Ankara before a tour of the Middle Eastern cities including Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. |
| Though the Middle East peace process will be on the agenda when he visits Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Mr Kerry will not visit Israel or the Palestinian Territories. | Though the Middle East peace process will be on the agenda when he visits Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Mr Kerry will not visit Israel or the Palestinian Territories. |
| President Barack Obama is expected to make the first trip of his presidency to Israel next month. | President Barack Obama is expected to make the first trip of his presidency to Israel next month. |
| Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which the country insists is for peaceful purposes, will also be on the new secretary of state's agenda. | Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which the country insists is for peaceful purposes, will also be on the new secretary of state's agenda. |
| On Tuesday, US officials along with counterparts from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will meet Iranian officials in Kazakhstan to attempt to persuade Iran to curtail its nuclear ambitions. | On Tuesday, US officials along with counterparts from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will meet Iranian officials in Kazakhstan to attempt to persuade Iran to curtail its nuclear ambitions. |