Moscow Warns Attempts to Cheat during Intra-Syrian Talks May Affect Political Process

MOSCOW- Attempts to cheat at intra-Syrian talks in Geneva will have a bad effect on the political process, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has told a news briefing.

“We are certain that the positive experience gained in Astana will be capitalized on in the future,” Zakharova said. “We expect that the talks in Geneva due later this week will end the dangerous prolonged pause in the intra-Syrian dialogue,” she stated, according to Itar Tass.

“Ensuring proper representation of the Syrian opposition, as it is required by the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2254, is a precondition of such a dialogue and its productiveness.”

“Any attempts to cheat somewhere to cater to the interests of those who do not wish to see peace and unity in Syria will have a bad effect on the continuity and productiveness of the political process,” Zakharova said.

 Sergei Vershinin, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy for the Middle East settlement and head of the Middle East and North Africa department, will represent Moscow at the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the ministry’s spokeswoman announced:

“I can confirm that Mr. Vershinin will be there.”

The talks between the Syrian government and “opposition” representatives will start in Geneva on February 23.

Russia to push ahead with assistance to Syrian army in fighting terrorists

Zakharova went on to say that the Russian military will push ahead with assistance to Syria’s government troops in the struggle against terrorists.

“The Russian armed forces will go ahead with providing support for the Syrian government army in its resistance to the so-called Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra,” Zakharova said.

She appreciated the efforts by Russian sappers and engineering troops to clear eastern Aleppo of mines. She offered condolences to the families of the four Russian military specialists, who were killed when a remote-controlled landmine destroyed their vehicle in Homs province on February 16.

The military and political situation in Syria remains strained as the Syrian army continues combat operations in Homs and Aleppo provinces and around Daraa.

“As far as combat operations are concerned, the situation in Syria has undergone no considerable change. The military and political situation in Aleppo and Homs provinces remains complicated,” Zakharova said.

Russian diplomat comments on Kiev’s call for stripping Russia of veto right in UN SC

The situation around Daraa, in southern Syria, is very serious as al-Nusra-affiliated terror groups continue to attack army positions and mount  mortar attacks on residential areas in city. The building of a local hospital was strongly damaged, she added.

On Kiev’s call for stripping Russia of veto right in UN SC

Commenting on Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin’s statement at a Security Council meeting in which he called for stripping Russia of the veto power in the UN Security Council,  Zakharova said Klimkin should focus on addressing problems in his home country first, and not try to “better” the performance of international mechanisms.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin, who has called for stripping Russia of the veto power in the UN Security Council, should focus on addressing problems in his home country first, and not try to “better” the performance of international mechanisms, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.

“I would like to share with him a piece of advice: put your own home in order first, make everything tidy, settle all issues, and then undertake to improve the operation of international mechanisms. The international mechanisms have shown pretty good performance so far without Mr. Klimkin’s intervention,” Zakharova said.

“The Ukrainian foreign minister should focus on problems in his home country. As soon as the issues that the whole international community has to deal with have been resolved, then it might be possible to hear his opinion on other matters,” she stated.

At last Tuesday’s meeting of the UN Security Council Klimkin called for stripping Russia of the veto power in the UN Security Council in considering the situation in Ukraine. It argued that Moscow was a party to the conflict in Donbass.

H.M