SOCHI, November 10. /TASS/. Abstract ideas on the change of regime in Syria will make the upcoming meeting in Vienna unsuccessful, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.
"If instead of specific work on these two issues [on the lists of terrorist and opposition groups] someone forwards again abstract ideas like ‘let’s change the regime and all will settle down by itself’, then of course there will be no success at this meeting [on Syrian settlement in Vienna]," Lavrov told journalists.
He said Russia is set for constructive work at the meeting and has long handed its proposals on both lists to partners.
"They have long pledged to respond, but they are late somehow," the minister said. He added that Moscow hopes these proposals will be received soon.
Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes at facilities of the Islamic State terrorist organization in Syria on September 30, 2015. The air group comprises over 50 aircraft and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-24M, Su-25SM and state-of-the-art Su-34 aircraft. Hundreds of terrorist facilities have been hit by Russian aircraft.
On October 7, four missile ships of the Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla fired 26 Kalibr cruise missiles (NATO codename Sizzler) at militants’ facilities in Syria. On October 8, the Syrian army passed to a large-scale offensive.
Russia’s Armed Forces act on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Russian Federation does not plan to take part in ground operations in Syria.
According to UN statistics, fighting between Syrian government troops and militants has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011.