International envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi welcomed the agreement between the US and Russia over a political solution for the Syrian crisis, but warned that it was “only a first step.”

International envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi welcomed the agreement between the US and Russia over a political solution for the Syrian crisis, but warned that it was “only a first step.”

"This is the first hopeful news concerning that unhappy country in a very long time," Brahimi said of Syria in a statement.

"The statements made in Moscow constitute a very significant first step forward. It is nevertheless only a first step," said the veteran Algerian diplomat who an aide has been mulling resignation over the apparent absence of a political track to resolve the crisis in Syria.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov announced an accord between the two countries to push both sides fighting in the Syrian conflict to end the current crisis.

The agreement came after lengthy talks in Moscow between Kerry, President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Brahimi also said that “there is every reason to expect" backing for the accord from the remaining UN Security Council permanent members.”
"It is equally important that the entire region mobilises in the support of the process," the statement said.

Following Moscow meeting, Lavrov said: "We agreed that Russia and the United States will encourage both the Syria government and opposition groups to find a political solution."  

He said both the countries were ready to use all their resources to bring "the government and opposition to the negotiating table".

Lavrov and Kerry said they hoped they could convene an international conference by the end of May to build on the Geneva accord agreed by world powers last June for a peaceful solution in Syria.