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Moscow against seven-day pauses in Syria — diplomat

Moscow insists on 48-hour pauses that would not let terrorist groups replenish supplies and regroup forces

MOSCOW, September 29./TASS/. Moscow regards as unacceptable truces for a term of seven days in Syria, this time is used for terrorists’ regrouping their forces, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday.

"We have repeatedly suggested 48-hour pauses, but the US for the reasons it alone knows has got stuck on the demand for seven-day pauses," he said. "Seven-day pauses is a period enough for terrorist groups to take necessary measures to replenish supplies, regroup forces. A seven-day term is unacceptable for us," Ryabkov said.

"I don’t know whether they will be required. As unceasing attempts to threaten everybody that a dialog and cooperation between Moscow and Washington can stop and will be wrapped up... we hear these signals," the top diplomat said.

"Every day we repeat that we don’t see any other solution to this problem except for a diplomatic one. Unfortunately, what is going on due to the Washington’s inability to fulfill its obligations and promises, is on the conscience of those making decisions in the US," he said. "We are outraged at the ultimatum-like tone of the signals that we are getting. Sometimes we even hear cynical threats against us and those who are really fighting terrorists in Syria. We can’t consider it anything else but de-facto support of terrorists from the current US administration."

Moscow once again emphasized that "there are still no alternatives to stabilizing the crisis, other than as stipulated in the Russian-US documents." "That is why the US administration should leave its ultimatum-like approach and the attempts to exert pressure on us, and focus on implementing the agreements that had taken months to be hammered out," the Russian diplomat said. "The agreements constitute very detailed and elaborate scheme."

US Department of State Spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that one of the consequences of the war in Syria could be extremists’ "attacks against Russian cities." He also said that "Russia will continue to send troops home in body bags," he said.

Commenting on the statement, Ryabkov said the United States had in fact invited terrorists to use weapons against Russia.

The diplomat called Washington’s threats "an emotional breakdown amid the inability of the Obama administration to implement its part of the agreements" on Syria. "The US is in fact bringing grist to the terrorists’ mill providing them with undisguised support," he stressed.