Zakharova: Moscow’s Stance on Syria Hasn’t Changed after Russian Bomber Incident
MOSCOW- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday evening will fly to New York to take part in the international meeting on the crisis in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said.
“Tomorrow afternoon Sergey Lavrov will fly to New York for participating in a meeting of the International Syria Support Group and other activities at the UN devoted to Syrian settlement,” Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.
“We expect that on the basis of its results and with the consent of all participants an agreement will be achieved to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution that would uphold all the principles contained in the Vienna documents,” she said.
Suggested date for starting inter-Syrian talks January 1
She pointed out that the suggested date for launching negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition is 1 January 2016.
This is a “suggested date established as a reference point that was discussed by participants in the meeting of the International Syria Support Group,” Zakharova said. “These issues are discussed daily. Of course, it would be great to reach agreements as soon as possible. However, we understand very well that this is a very complicated process. The resolution is being reached at a slower pace than we would want,” she added.
Moscow’s stance on Syria has not changed
Zakharova also stressed that Moscow’s stance on Syria has not changed before, during or after the incident with the Russian bomber.
“We had different opinions over a number of regional issues with Turkey, but we maintained interaction with the Turkish counterparts in attempts to narrow differences,” she said
Turkey has shut down the window of opportunity for a constructive dialogue on Syria, she added.
“One of the effects of that incident [involving Russia’s Sukhoi-24 plane] was we have started open discussions with Turkey along the Syrian settlement track,” Zakharova said. “Before, we were saying everything outright, but behind closed doors, acting in a way a partner should do. But after what we’ve seen – after the shooting down of the Sukhoi-24 and after Ankara’s terrible rhetoric – Turkey has shut the window of opportunity for a constructive dialogue.”
H.M