Putin Stresses Trump’s Decision to Recognize Syrian Golan as Part of “Israel” a Violation of UNSC Resolutions

MOSCOW- The US’ decision to recognize “Israel’s sovereignty” over the occupied Syrian Golan violates UN Security Council resolutions – a position that Moscow has already made clear, Russian President Vladimir Putin said following his meeting with President of the Turkish regime Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow on Monday, according to RT.

 “Regarding recognition of the Golan as a part of Israel, you already know Russian stance. It’s been presented in a statement by Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The [US] move violates respective UN Security Council resolutions,” Putin stated.

He also said that the guarantor states of Astana process on Syria will continue effective cooperation to resolve the crisis in Syria in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254 which affirms the need to preserve Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

 Idleb is a thorny issue

The Russian president pointed out that “Idleb is a thorny issue and solving it is a condition to create suitable environment for political process in Syria through joint Russian and Turkish efforts.”    

He went on saying that Moscow will continue to cooperate within Astana platform in order to realize progress in the political process, noting that priority is given to reconstruction and creating suitable environment that helps displaced Syrians return home.

Meantime, Putin’s Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev announced that it has become difficult to reach any agreements on Syria with the United States after Trump’s declaration on occupied Syrian Golan.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Lavrentiev said “it has become difficult to talk to the Americans and reach any deals with them after this widely criticized US decision”, asking how they will explain the concept “Syria’s territorial integrity”

He reiterated that the US declaration doesn’t change the fact that Golan belongs to Syria, clarifying that unilateral recognition by any country changes nothing in this regard according to the International Law.  

Lavrentiev also said that Russia expects UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen to take part in the next meeting as part of the Astana process in the Kazakh Capital Nur-Sultan (Formerly Astana) on April 25-26.

Hamda Mustafa