Results of trilateral talks
MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russian, Syrian and Iranian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov, Walid Muallem and Mohammad Javad Zarifv held a trilateral meeting on the Syrian developments on October 28.
Syria’s cooperation with UN
According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia and Iran welcomed Syria’s readiness to boost cooperation with the UN.
“Russia and Iran welcome the Syrian government’s readiness to enhance cooperation with the UN in solving humanitarian issues, that was confirmed today,” the Russian minister said. “We believe that the UN representatives should act impartially, refrain from responding to provocations, and do everything possible to confront terrorists in Syria.
Syrian government has no contacts with US-led coalition
The Syrian foreign minister said the government does not maintain any contacts with the US-led anti-terrorist coalition and questions its effectiveness.
“There are no contacts between the Syrian government and the coalition led by the US,” he said, adding that the coalition’s operation that has lasted more than two years yielded no results.
Damascus is certain that Washington is not eager to meet its commitments in regard to Syria, he added.
“The U.S. admits the roles of Russia and Iran (in resolution of the Syria crisis) but cannot cooperate with us,” Muallem said. “We have no trust in the United States. We are certain it will not meet its commitments.”
Responsibility for position of Syrians rests upon terrorists, West, its sanctions
The Russian top diplomat stressed the responsibility for the current position of Syrians rests upon not only on terrorists, but also on the West and its sanctions.
Lavrov: West lets Islamic State ‘genie’ out of bottle in Middle East
“We have been able to see for ourselves that it is a very useful format and that it allows for a meaningful and frank exchange of opinion on how to achieve compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions for settling the Syrian crisis,” Lavrov said. “We put the emphasis on the need for going ahead with and stepping up irreconcilable struggle against terrorism and simultaneously address the questions of improving the humanitarian situation, returning to the regime of the cessation of hostilities and urgently restarting intra-Syrian negotiations in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions without any double standards.”
“At negotiations with Iran we reaffirmed the fundamental support for the unity and territorial integrity of Syria. We agreed to work together to address the task of eliminating terrorists and restoring peace and civil infrastructures,” Lavrov said. He recalled that at a meeting of the international discussion club Valdai Russian President Vladimir Putin “suggested giving thought without delay to some equivalent of a ‘Marshall Plan’ for reconstruction in Syria.”
“We stated that the responsibility for the worsening of the socio-economic position rests upon not only on terrorists, but also on the countries that apply unlawful unilateral economic sanctions against Syria, which hit ordinary people in that country first and foremost,” he said.
“We expressed the unanimity all countries must strictly follow the fundamental principles of international law, including non-intervention in the internal affairs, the non-use of the threat of force and the settlement of the arising disagreements by political means,” Lavrov said. “We are unanimous that attempts to dictate solutions from outside and to use double standards are unacceptable and that all issues must be resolved on the basis of mutual respect and equality through negotiations.”
“We supported the Syrian leadership in its determination to resume the political process on the basis of resolutions by the International Syria Support Group,” Lavrov said. “We welcomed Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem’s promise a Syrian government delegation would be prepared to go to Geneva shortly for UN sponsored talks with the representatives of all opposition groups, just as UN Security Council resolutions require.”
The minister stressed Moscow, unlike its Western counterparts, is set to carry the fight against terrorists through to the end.
“Terrorists must be smashed,” Lavrov said. “When our Western partners are battling terrorism with words, we are full of determination to carry the matter through to the end with deeds.”
Russian-US agreements on Syria had begun with a statement that the top priority was to separate moderate opposition and terrorists, Lavrov said.
“Nonetheless, there was no progress, there is no progress and, to tell the truth, I do not expect any further progress, at least in the immediate future,” Lavrov said. “I am going to remind that this separation was linked to a seven-day ‘silence regime’ during which Americans promised to show us in their maps where there were terrorists and where not.”
“As of today, neither Russia nor Syria has been using their Aerospace and Air Forces around Aleppo for ten days,” the Russian foreign minister said. “Over this span of time the separation could have been done at least in eastern Aleppo.”
Appeals to cease the fire just reflected a desire to buy time and provide a respite for terrorists, he added.
Russia urges UN SC to prohibit foreign support for terrorists
Lavrov said prevention of foreign support for terrorists is a requirement of the UN Security Council and Russia will insist on compliance with that demand.
“Prevention of any support for terrorists is not somebody’s personal wish. It is a requirement of the UN Security Council. It is stated in its resolutions,” Lavrov said. “Any support, including support from abroad, is prohibited by the UN Security Council and we will insist on compliance with these UN SC requirements. We will be doing so in our contacts with the countries of the US-led coalition. We have the corresponding channels for the dialog.”
“In practical terms the decisions are to be made by the military,” he said. “These decisions must not always be made public. Our three countries and also Iraq at a certain point created a joint center in Baghdad to coordinate practical approaches to struggle against terrorists. I believe that this center has been very useful and may be of still greater use than before, bearing in mind that there is a real threat terrorists may be forced out of Mosul and redirected towards Syrian territory.”
Russia urges UN not to believe hysterical lies about Aleppo, Idlib, Lavrov added.
Situation in Aleppo
Sergey Lavrov said after the talks with his counterparts that terrorists have now actually closed exit for Aleppo residents in Syria and no separation from the opposition has occurred.
“The situation in Aleppo is now seriously escalating,” the Russian foreign minister said.
“The ceasefire has been disrupted through the fault of the armed opposition. The United States and its allies in the region have failed or have shown no desire to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire regime by their subjects. This has endangered thousands of civilians in eastern Aleppo whom terrorists are using as a human shield,” he added.
“At the same time, proceeding from humanitarian considerations, Russia and Syria have suspended combat operations against terrorists,” Lavrov said.
“No flights of the Russian Aerospace Force and the Syrian Air Force have been performed for already 10 days. The aircraft of our countries do not approach the frontline around Aleppo closer than 10 km,” the Russian foreign minister said.
“We counted very seriously that the humanitarian pause and the absence of aircraft’s operations would be used by our American partners to finally convince the so-called moderate opposition to dissociate itself from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the former Nusra [Jabhat al-Nusra outlawed in Russia], which is actually controlling eastern Aleppo and commanding all other armed opposition groupings located there,” the Russian foreign minister said.
“Very regrettably, such separation has failed again. Moreover, it is obvious that the terrorists have closed the exit from the city [Aleppo] through the humanitarian corridors. Instead of letting civilians leave, these corridors have turned out to be under militants’ aimed fire,” Lavrov said.
Terrorists’ exodus from Mosul to Syria
The Russian top diplomat stressed terrorists’ exodus from Mosul to Syria cannot be allowed, this issue will be discussed with the US.
“We also exchanged views on the situation in neighboring Iraq where the international anti-IS coalition has launched an operation to liberate Mosul,” he noted. “We are interested in taking measures, in collaboration with our Iraqi colleagues, to prevent terrorists’ exodus from Mosul with their weapons and heavy vehicles, which will, of course, aggravate the situation in Syria.”
“We believe it is important not to allow this, we will discuss the issue with both the Americans and other members of their coalition,” Russia’s top diplomat said. “We cannot let terrorists leave (Mosul) so they could redirect their activities towards Syria.”.
Lavrov added that joint center in Baghdad could be be more relevant than before, including in light of situation in Mosul.
MOSCOW, (ST)-Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed that political settlement in Syria should be achieved through intra-Syrian dialogue and be based on Security Council resolutions.
Lavrov was speaking during a joint press conference with Syria’s Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif following their trilateral talks in Moscow.
The Russian top diplomat welcomed al-Moallem’s announcement that Syria was ready to immediately resume intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.
Her said foreign players used the humanitarian crisis in Syria to achieve their own agenda, stressing that Russia will continue fighting terrorism in Syria and that the trilateral meeting discussed joint efforts in this regard.
He went on to say that the terrorists in Aleppo have closed all the exits out from the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo to prevent civilians from leaving the area, noting that “representatives of international organizations have abandoned their duties towards the people of Aleppo eastern districts and confined their efforts to media statements.”
On his part, al-Moallem said those who have been conspiring on Syria for five years are the same parties who are launching the ongoing anti-Russia propaganda.
Anti-Syria propaganda won’t stop our fight against terrorism
“The anti-Syria propaganda won’t affect or stop our fight against terrorism, particularly in Aleppo,” al-Moallem said.
He went on to say “we suffered a lot from the US-led international coalition’s behavior, because it didn’t actually fight Deash, rather, it kept targeting the infrastructure of the Syrian economy.”
He pointed out that this coalition doesn’t want to liberate Iraq’s Mosul from Deash; rather it wants to transfer Deash terrorists from Mosul to Syria, but we, in cooperation with Russia, will prevent this from happening.
Al-Moallem said the government does not maintain any contacts with the US-led coalition and questions its effectiveness.
“There are no contacts between the Syrian government and the coalition led by the US,” he said, adding that the coalition’s operation that has lasted more than two years yielded no results.
Trusting US is an illusion
According to al-Moallem, the United States doesn’t have real political will to solve the crisis in Syria so it foiled its agreement with Russia. He said “trusting the United States is an illusion because it doesn’t implement its pledges and it keeps launching lying media campaign against Syria, Russia and Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Zarif, in turn, described the talks in Moscow as “very productive,” saying Iran and Russia have developed “very close” relations in different areas.
Commenting on the situation in Syria, the top Iranian diplomat said Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be protected, adding that it is up to the Syrian nation to determine its own destiny and that the voice of the Syrians must be recognized.
He further highlighted the need for a political settlement of the crisis, adding that Tehran backs the resumption of peace talks between the Syrian government and “opposition”.
The Iranian minister called for a “ceasefire” in Syria, joint battles against terror groups as well as efforts to facilitate aid delivery to Syrian civilians in besieged areas.
He said the global community must unite in the battle against terrorism, which poses a threat not only to Syria, but the entire world.
Zarif added that supporting terrorism would serve the interest of no one, warning that the terror groups would eventually “bite the hands that feed them.”
Al-Maollem to Lavrov: Syria Ready to Resume Intra-Syrian Dialogue, But Washington, Allies Block Efforts in this Regard
Earlier, Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and expatriates Walid al-Moallem stressed that Syrian was ready to the cessation of hostilities and to cooperate in finding a political solution to the crisis through intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference.
During his meeting on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, al-Moallem said “we are ready to resume the intra-Syrian dialogue in Geneva immediately, but Washington and its allies don’t allow another round of talks to be held.”
Syria ready to resume truce if it gets guarantees of civilians departure from Aleppo
Al-Moallem went on to say that Syria is also ready to resume the cessation of hostilities in Aleppo in case it gets guarantees from terrorists’ sponsors to allow the departure of civilians from the area.
” Recently we decided to cease the fire in Aleppo and there was a humanitarian pause for three days during which the Russian and Syrian air forces stopped sorties over the city and this process is still working till now to ensure safe exist for civilians, but the terrorists of [Jabhat al-Nusra] and [Ahrar al-Sham] threatened civilians, who wanted to leave the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, against doing so in order to use them as human shields,” al-Moallem said.
“Syria is determined to liberate every inch of its land from terrorism and it highly appreciates the Russian and Iranian contribution to Syria’s efforts aiming to achieve this goal,” al-Moallem added, referring to daily coordination between the three countries to achieve a the common goal of eliminating terrorism.
Al-Moallem thanked the Russian people and President Validmir Putin for Russia’s help in fighting terrorism in Syria. He said “President Bashar Al-Assad asked me to convey the thanks of the Syrian leadership, people and government to His Excellency President Vladimir Putin and the friendly Russian people for Russia’s effective contribution to the fight against terrorism.
No alternative for intensifying anti-terror efforts
On his part, Lavrov said “Russia sees no alternative for intensifying anti-terror efforts, because if we fail in this issue we will face the danger of losing the battle not only in Syria, but in the entire Middle east and North Africa.”
He added contacts between Moscow and Damascus are necessary to guarantee accurate and strict implementation of the Security Council resolutions on Syria.
Lavrov pointed out that some western partners were trying to distort the international resolutions on Syria and to shift focus from terrorism fighting efforts to other issues.
“Russia will spare no effort as to support the Syrian people who are experiencing toughened coercive unilateral economic measures,” Lavrov said, stressing that these restrictions target peaceful people first of all.
Hamda Mustafa/ M.A.