MOSCOW, February 9./TASS/. Russia has offered a scheme on a ceasefire in Syria to the US, and Washington has started working on it, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily on Tuesday.
"Without disclosing details, I will note that unlike those, also American, colleagues who constantly simply urge an immediate declaration of ceasefire, to which first of all US allies in the region object insisting that this can be discussed only when it becomes clear that Bashar Assad steps down, we have suggested an absolutely concrete scheme in contacts with Washington," he said, noting that Washington was looking into it.
"I hope that very simple proposals it contains will not take too long for Washington to consider them," the minister said, reminding the readers that US Secretary of State John Kerry has recently mentioned the Russian proposal in his interview.
Lavrov noted that Moscow was not working on Syria alone, but with assistance of other international partners. "They (international partners) are trying to hold us responsible for very many things under way in Syria and Ukraine," he said.
"But at the same time, they ask us to settle the problem of the Syrian Arab Republic, ensure a ceasefire," the Russian diplomat added.
Removal of Kurds from talks on Syria is Turkey’s arrogant position shared by no one, Russian Foreign Minister said.
"The fact that they [Kurds] are removed from Syrian talks is such an exceptional arrogant position of Turkey that no one shares," Lavrov said. "Turks openly say we [the Russian Federation] spoilt their game, now they are also trying to pillory Americans."
"President of Turkey [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan directly demanded that Washington choose - either Kurds or Turkey," the Russian minister said.
"A response has already been voiced [anonymously yet] from Washington that the Kurds, including the Democratic Union party, which Turks associate with terrorism, are allies of Washington in the fight against ISIL [former name of the Islamic State terrorist organization banned in Russia]," he said.