Terrorism in Syria cannot be fought using other terrorists – Russian FM Lavrov

Munich -Syria’s armed opposition group, the “Islamic Front”, with whose assistance foreign stakeholders in the conflict are trying to combat terrorism in the country, is in fact a terrorist organization itself, says Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov,according to Voice of Russia.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Lavrov noted that, while some are trying to combat the terrorist organizations “al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant “through establishing a new association called the Islamic Front, the groups comprising the “Islamic Front “are pretty similar to those terror groups.

At least one was involved, with the “al-Nusra Front”, in the Adra massacre in Syria, in which dozens of Christians, Druze, and other minorities were slain, he added. “Militants “migrate between the” Islamic Front, al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” depending on who pays more, Russia therefore has great doubts that the “Islamic Front” could serve as an alternative to terrorists, Lavrov said.

Russian FM Lavrov against ultimatums regarding Syrian chemical disarmament

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggests that no ultimatums should be made concerning the chemical disarmament process in Syria.

Lavrov pointed out that it is wrong to threaten Syria that force might be used against it if it fails to meticulously adhere to the chemical disarmament schedule that was agreed upon earlier.

The Russian minister contended that such threats are not helpful.

Syrian opposition delegation in Geneva should be more representative – Lavrov

The Syrian opposition delegation at the Geneva-2 international conference on Syria should be more representative, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Lavrov noted that external stakeholders should not promote these or those Syrian groups as the only legitimate representatives of the Syrian people but should persuade the Syrian parties to remain in Geneva and continue the negotiations.

Moscow welcomes the modest but still inspiring results UN Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has achieved with the Syrian government and” opposition” delegations in the past week and expects these to be developed at the next round of talks, he said.

Russia actively supports this dialogue and believes it should be made truly representative as soon as possible, which is the only way for it to be successful, Lavrov said.

All those who can influence the “opposition” should make sure that the delegations at the negotiating table represent the entire spectrum of Syrian society, he said.

M.D