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Conflict in Syria

Russian lawmaker urges Saudi Arabia to support Syria truce agreement

On February 22, Russia and the United States made a joint statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria as of midnight (Damascus time) and 01:00 Moscow time on February 27

Konstantin Kosachev Anna Isakova/Russian State Duma press service/TASS

Konstantin Kosachev

© Anna Isakova/Russian State Duma press service/TASS

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MOSCOW, February 25 /TASS/. Saudi Arabia should support the Russia-US agreement on cessation of hostilities in Syria, Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev said at a meeting with a delegation of the Saudi Consultative Council on Thursday.

"We would like Saudi Arabia, a country which certainly has full authority and responsibility, to support the initiative on truce in Syria," Kosachev, the head of the Russian Federation Council (parliament’s upper house) Committee for International Affairs, said.

He added that Russia was not supporting any concrete political force or regime in Syria. "We are not assuming the right to decide who is right and who is wrong. The only exception are terrorist organizations, operating in the territory of Syria, which we are putting beyond any agreements or compromises," the Russian lawmaker stressed.

On February 22, Russia and the United States made a joint statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria as of midnight (Damascus time) and 01:00 Moscow time on February 27. Both countries undertook commitments to influence the political forces they support or sponsor in Syria and persuade them into reaching a truce. The truce conditions will not apply to terrorist groups, which the United Nations has classified as terrorist, including the Islamic State and the Jabhat al-Nusra Front (both are banned in Russia).

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Foreign policy Saudi Arabia Syrian conflict

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