MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Extremist groupings patronized by Turkey are the main forces breaching the truce in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
"Russia was one of the initiators of the truce and Russia objectively cannot be interested in the disruption of its own efforts," the spokeswoman said.
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"The extremist groupings are the main violators of the truce and it is well known that the Turkish authorities are behind them," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
"If not for Turkey’s criminal interference in the affairs of the neighboring country, the peace settlement would have been achieved much faster," the spokeswoman said.
"These are not just words and proofs lie on the surface. For example, the Turkish journalists covering arms deliveries to Syria were taken into custody," she said.
Moscow hopes that new anti-Russian information attacks won’t distract the international community from Turkey’s unconstructive role in Syrian affairs, she said.
Some forces try to protect Jabhat al-Nusra from defeat
According to the diplomat, certain forces have been trying to protect the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) from defeat.
"We are being accused of civilian casualties," she said. "The main purpose is to try to protect Jabhat al-Nusra from defeat. They keep guiding anti-government forces, hiding behind the backs of other groups and using them as a human shield. They don’t stop at using Syrian civilians for that."
Zakharova pointed to the fact that in Aleppo province terrorists operate under the cover the coalition Jaysh al-Moujahideen they lead and that Jabhat al-Nusra militants have resumed intensive bombardments of the Kurdish district Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo.
"This vicious link should be broken as soon as possible," Zakharova said. "We are urging wider international cooperation in the struggle with terrorists in Syria, including Jabhat al-Nusra. There is no more time or opportunity to describe militants as moderate opposition," Zakharova said.