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US has understanding that Turkish-Syrian border should be closed — Lavrov

John Kerry agreed with me that closing of the Turkish-Syrian border and the Turkish-Iraqi border, as all this is interconnected, is among the most urgent measures, Russian Foreign Minister said
Turkish side of the border with Syria AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
Turkish side of the border with Syria
© AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

BELGRADE, December 3. /TASS/. The United States has understanding that it is necessary to close the Turkish-Syrian border, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"We discussed the fight against ISIL with Kerry," the minister said. "And John Kerry agreed with me that closing of the Turkish-Syrian border and the Turkish-Iraqi border, as all this is interconnected, is among the most urgent measures".

"How to do that - you know our ideas about who could cooperate," Lavrov noted. "The Americans have understanding that this should be done. There is understanding that the Kurds are allies on this issue, as they are in anti-Islamic State efforts. They are allies to the United States and many European countries which are helping the Kurdish volunteers in their anti-terrorist efforts."

"Naturally, the closure of borders is such a thing that can be done only as part of comprehensive efforts of all who works on the ground and it is to be backed by aerial support," he said. "So, it is difficult to say what shape it might take but the fact that this problem has been recognized as a central one cannot be denied."