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Conflict in Syria

Moscow wants Turkish-Syrian border tightly sealed — Russian Foreign Ministry

There have been reports that at least ten Syrian citizens were killed by Turkish troops on June 18 while trying to cross the Syrian-Turkish border near Jisr al-Shughur

© EPA/SEDAT SUNA

MOSCOW, June 23. /TASS/. Moscow wants the Turkish-Syrian border tightly sealed in order to stop weapons supplies and the infiltrations of militants, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.

"There have been reports that at least ten Syrian citizens were killed by Turkish troops on June 18 while trying to cross the Syrian-Turkish border near Jisr al-Shughur," Zakharova said. "This is a reason to state once again that the situation on the border between Syria and Turkey is not just complicated, but extremely unfavorable. That situation remains a source of continued tensions due to continued infiltrations by militants from Turkey and the delivery of weapons and ammunition for terrorist groups operating in Syria."

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"In the interests of normalizing the situation in Syria it is important to ensure the Syrian-Turkish border should be tightly sealed to stop all illegal weapons deliveries and the traffic of militants, who join terrorist forces, just as it is stated in the UN Security Council resolutions," Zakharova said.

As for the situation in Syria in general Zakharova said that the situation there remained strained.

"Regrettably, even during the Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan the intensity of violence has not eased altogether. The Syrian army and people’s militias are still confronted with terrorist groups," she said.

"In the middle of June, according to mass media reports, a makeshift shell containing a war gas was used by terrorists against government troops during a clash in a Damascus suburb," Zakharova said.

"The Russian center for reconciliation at Hmeymim is pushing ahead with systematic efforts to expand the area of cessation of hostilities. By now the corresponding agreements have been signed with more than 150 communities," Zakharova said.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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