Zakharova Urges Positive Response to Syrian Government’s Call for Closing Turkish Borders

MOSCOW, (ST)-Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova urged positive response to calls by the legitimate Syrian government for closing the Turkish borders and preventing the  flow of terrorists across these border into Syria.

 In a statement to SANA correspondent in Moscow on Friday, Zakharova said “we believe that great efforts have been exerted to launch the process of peaceful settlement in Syria and to undermine the terrorists, but at the same time, keeping the Turkish borders with Syria opened brings to minds the attempt of pumping air in a pierced balloon. So, “it is impossible to pump live in the political process as long as the Syrian-Turkish borders are opened.”

So-called “moderate opposition” groups are in the ranks of terrorist organizations

The terrorists, calling themselves “moderate opposition” while they are within the ranks of the terrorist organizations, are the very party which violates the cessation of hostilities agreement and keep attacking civilians by all savage means, according to Zakharova.

She clarified that western journalists’ reports on Aleppo and their attempts to accuse the Syrian government of violating the cessation of hostilities are based on false information obtained from dishonest and inaccurate sources, “whereas, we provide true information supported by figures based on solid basis and facts.

She pointed out that there is a heinous media campaign being launched by the West as to maintain its position and to keep supporting the forces it fund and sponsor forces which are basically not interested in the political process.

Regarding the role being played by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in events in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, Zakharova said “regional players have played a big role that can’t be described as positive”.

She clarified that Turkey has dealt heavy blows to the political settlement process. In addition, the continuity of the flow of terrorists, weapons and ammunitions as well as the illegal trade activities across the Syrian Turkish borders a have badly affected counterterrorism efforts.

 US unable to force so-called “Moderate opposition” to distance itself from Jabhat al-Nusra

Also on Friday, Zakharova said that Russia calls for struggling against all the extremist armed groups violating the cessation of hostilities in Syria.

The problem is that the American partners have been unable to force what they call “moderate opposition” groups they support to distance themselves from Jabhat al-Nusra, the diplomat said. “The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists are used by these groups and their members for new bloody provocations.”

“Moscow insists on the need of uncompromising fight against terrorists and against those violating the cessation of hostilities, in particular such odious extremist armed groups as Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam,” Zakharova told reporters, according to Itar Tass.

Russia calls on all the international regional forces that have influence on the armed groups in Syria to use this influence for the good and force their so-called “protégés” to distance themselves from the terrorists of the so-called “Islamic State” and Jabhat al-Nusra. “It is necessary to maintain ceasefire in full,” she stressed.

Hamda Mustafa