Lavrov: Geopolitical Ambitions Inappropriate in Fight against Terrorism

MOSCOW-Attempts to satisfy someone’s geopolitical ambitions are inappropriate in the fight against the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIL) terrorist organization banned in Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, according to Itar Tass.

“Plans to create some kind of safe havens, fence oneself off from troubled neighbors do not work. The importance of putting all secondary issues aside and focusing on the fight against terrorism is absolutely obvious for us,” Lavrov told the meeting with participants in the program of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund “Dialogue for the Future.” “This is a common threat for all countries without exception especially when such sinister group as ISIL emerged threatening in fact the entire human civilization,” the foreign minister noted.

Fight against ISIL should become utmost priority

“The fight against this evil should become the utmost priority. Plans to fulfill geopolitical ambitions in parallel with this fight are absolutely unacceptable here. It (fight against terrorism) should be based on international law, under UN auspices, without double standards,” he stressed.

Lavrov reminded about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to form a united counter-terrorist front. “We adhere to this plan. We do not just proclaim it, we persistently promote it in contacts will all our partners,” the foreign minister said.

Lavrov slams policy of replacing regimes as fruitless and counterproductive

According to Lavrov, the stubborn policy of replacing regimes is fruitless and counter-productive.

“The latest events have shown that we can be successful only on the basis of collective efforts,” he said.

“Any attempts to act unilaterally yield no results. They are counterproductive and breed chaos. I have in mind the stubborn policy of replacing regimes and dictating one’s own model of development,” he said.

Foreign players should attain practical results on Syrian settlement

Lavrov noted that foreign players should attain practical results on the Syrian settlement.

“All foreign players who have real influence on the situation in Syria were gathered at the negotiations table. Now that the (Syria Support) Group has been established and it announced its priorities which, according to foreign players, should bring us forward in the settlement of this crisis, it is important to get practical results,” Lavrov said.

“These priorities are very clear – uncompromising fight against terrorism, first of all against the [Islamic State] terrorist organization, Jebhat al-Nusra and others, and simultaneous promotion of political process with participation of all Syrian political forces without exception with consideration of securing their interests,” the foreign minister noted.

“I am confident that this approach is absolutely applicable to all other crises that we are witnessing in the Middle East,” Lavrov concluded.

H.M