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Lavrov urges US to join practical measures against truce violators in Syria

According to the minister, the groups cooperating with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia) should be excluded from the ceasefire regime
Turkish border crossing with Syria on the outskirts of the town of Kilis AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis
Turkish border crossing with Syria on the outskirts of the town of Kilis
© AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Moscow is calling on the United States to join practical measures against violators of the truce in Syria, as a delay is bad in the fight against terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday.

"This is a very important issue [on dissociation of the Syrian opposition from terrorists] from the viewpoint of efficiency of all our efforts to prevent the triumph of terrorists in Syria and to promote intra-Syrian political dialogue," he said.

"Many months have passed since the UN Security Council approved decisions of the Syria Support Group, this is more than enough time for any armed formation to make its choice: join the regime of cessation of fire or not," Lavrov said.

"We voiced that thought to the United States, which is the leader of the coalition, recalling that it is counterproductive to wait further from the viewpoint of our common antiterrorism tasks," he said.

"Along with the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra [terrorist organizations banned in Russia], all those armed formations that have not joined the regime of cessation of hostilities, or joined it but do not observe it, should bear all responsibility," Lavrov said.

"I hope that the United States, which agreed with that logic, will join us in practical ctions to prevent the current situation from being used to strengthen the positions of terrorists on the ground," he said.

According to the minister, the groups cooperating with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia) should be excluded from the ceasefire regime.

"Particular attention at this stage is paid to full and strict compliance with the cessation of hostilities, understanding clearly that IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and those cooperating with them are excluded from it and that it is necessary to stop the infiltration of gunmen and weapons from Turkey," Sergey Lavrov said after a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh on Thursday.

Lavrov has also stressed that it is extremely important to stop movement of militants and weapons across the Turkish-Syrian border.

New round of talks

 Russia is concerned over the slowing political settlement process in Syria and is urging to start a new round of inter-Syrian peace talks as soon as possible

According to Lavrov, the sides confirmed at the talks "their commitment to the decisions reached in the International Syria Support Group and then approved by the UN Security Council."

"Special attention at this stage is being paid to ensuring full and strict observance of the ceasefire regime, with the clear understanding, of course, that this regime must exclude militants of the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra [terrorist organizations outlawed in Russia] and those who are collaborating with them, as well as with the understanding that it is necessary to cut short the smuggling of arms and the illegal infiltration of militants into Syria through the Turkish border," the Russian foreign minister said.

"At the same time, we’re now watching considerable progress in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in need and note the efforts that are being taken there and believe that more can be done there," Lavrov said.

"With all the importance of the task of the ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid, a decisive role in the settlement [in Syria] should be played by political negotiations, which we all undertook to maintain in the form of an inclusive dialog [between the Syrian government and the opposition], without preliminary conditions and interference from outside," the Russian foreign minister said.

"The slowdown of this process is a cause for concern," Lavrov said.

"In this regard, a new round of talks should begin as soon as possible," the Russian foreign minister said.