Any New UNSC Resolution on Syria Should Include Separating Terrorists from “Opposition”

MOSCOW- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has stressed that any United Nations Security Council Resolution on the humanitarian situation in Syria should included two provisions: the first concerns the need to separate the so-called “opposition” from terrorists and second highlights that the ceasefire doesn’t apply to terror groups, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.  

Gatilov made the remarks during his meeting on Fridfay with Spain’s Ambassador to Russia Jose Ignacio Carjabal and New Zealand’s Charges d’Affaires Cecilia Warren.

 The three  officials exchanged views on the UN Security Council’s work on the resolution on the humanitarian situation in Syria initiated by Madrid and Wellington, the Russian foreign ministry noted.

“Russia has confirmed that the new resolution should particularly include two provisions, one of them concerning the need to separate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists,” the ministry stressed. “Another important provision should ensure that the ceasefire doesn’t apply to terror groups.”

The draft resolution initiated by New Zealand demands the warring sides to “immediately halt hostilities that may lead to civilian deaths and casualties or damage civilian infrastructure.” Besides that, the draft resolution stipulates the withdrawal of gunmen from Eastern Aleppo in accordance with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s initiative.

The draft resolution also envisages introducing regular 48-hour pauses in military activities so that humanitarian aid could be delivered. According to the document, the first ceasefire should be announced within 24 hours after the resolution is adopted.

H.M