Lavrov Stresses Washington Must Coordinate with Damascus to Fight Daesh in Syria

MOSCOW- Russian Foreign Minsiter Sergei Lavrov stressed that it was impossible to successfully fight terrorism on a territory of a sovereign state without a proper coordination of actions with the legitimate authorities of that state.

Washington should coordinate the fight against the terrorists of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in Syria through direct contacts with the Syrian government and without Moscow’s mediation, said Lavrov in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“I don’t think there is a need for our mediation in contacts between Damascus and the Americans,” Lavrov said, adding that there were plenty of opportunities for direct contacts between the sides.

Russia Questions US Calls for Joint Fight against ISIL

The Russian Foreign Minister also said that US calls to join efforts in the fight against the so-called Islamic State sound unconvincing as Washington has never planned to include Moscow in its ‘global coalition’ while putting Russia on the same priority threat list with ISIL fighters.

“Washington has never saw us as a direct participant of the anti-ISIL coalition, which the US has created in line with its own rules and parameters…without paying respect to international law,” Lavrov told RIA Novosti.

“Moreover, President Barack Obama has consistently labeled Russia as a global threat similar to ISIL and Ebola virus,” Lavrov said.

“In light of these facts, periodic calls by other US officials ‘to join efforts’ in the fight against ISIL terrorists sound very unconvincing,” the minister added.

H. Mustafa