Lavrov Blames Washington for Failure to Resume Intra-Syrian Talks

ST. PETERSBURG-Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has held the United States responsible for the failure to resume the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, because it puts no pressure on its allies in the region.

It is Washington’s fault, not Moscow’s that those taking part in the talks have failed to sit down at the negotiating table so far, Lavrov said.

“Ensuring that these people sit down at the negotiating table, in full compliance with a clear UN Security Council mandate, has been impossible, not because of us, but because of our American partners who for some reason are unwilling to pressure their allies in the region, and these allies have categorical stances,” Lavrov clarified on Thursday during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

 US State Secretary John Kerry stated earlier in the week that Russia must understand that Washington has “very limited” patience left in regard to Syria “ceasefire” violations, Sputnik reported.

The foreign minister said he was surprised by Kerry’s statements and commented by saying: “first of all, we have not promised anyone to do anything. We have given no promises to anyone, but agreed that everyone working on the Syrian settlement will be guided by agreements reached by the International Syria Support Group, which have been written down in UN Security Council Resolutions,” Lavrov said.

According to the minister, there is no progress on Syrian political settlement as it has been impossible to gather all groups that should be represented.

“There is no progress in the political process. The reasons we are hearing — I just met with the UN secretary general and his special Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, we had a frank talk — they cannot launch a political dialogue with the participation of all Syrian parties,” the minister stated.

“The Turks are not letting in the Kurds, and the so-called High Negotiations Committee refuses to recognize the members of other opposition groups as equals and demands to be named the main negotiator,” he added.

Sputnik

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