The United States and Russia are expected to reach an agreement this weekend on a plan to oversee the dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons.
Talks are continuing in Geneva between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Moscow's proposal to help secure Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons to avert US military strikes. The meeting began on Thursday.
The BBC reports the gap between the two sides in estimating the size of Syria's chemical stockpile, has narrowed
"It is a sign that we are going on, that we proceed with talking and negotiating. Now it is like a real negotiating process, they are working on some real substance," said a spokesperson for Mr Lavrov on Friday.
AFP reports United Nations-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was also at the talks on Friday.
The United States accuses President Bashar al-Assad of using chemical weapons to kill 1429 civilians in Damascus on 21 August.
Mr Kerry, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and British Foreign Secretary William Hague will hold further talks on Syria in Paris on Monday.
Mr Assad confirmed for the first time on Thursday that Syria planned to relinquish its chemical arms.
Syria on Thursday filed documents at the United Nations seeking to join the international convention banning chemical weapons and said it now considers itself a full member.
A UN spokesperson said on Friday that Syria has been asked for more information about its application.
France's UN ambassador Gerard Araud says Monday is the tentative date for the report by a team led by Ake Sellstrom of Sweden, to be presented to the Security Council and other UN member states.
