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Lavrov hopes to work out constructive solution on Syria at meeting with Muallem, Zarif

The foreign minister is planning to discuss the Russian-Syrian bilateral relations as well
Foreign Ministers from Iran, Russia, and Syria, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergey Lavrov and Walid al-Moallem AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev
Foreign Ministers from Iran, Russia, and Syria, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergey Lavrov and Walid al-Moallem
© AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expects to hammer out a constructive solution for Syria at a meeting with Syrian and Iranian top diplomats, Walid Muallem and Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Friday.

"The situation in and around Syria requires our regular contacts to ensure the strict implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254," Lavrov said opening talks with Muallem. "This resolution clearly outlined the world community’s approaches towards resolving the Syrian crisis, especially in terms of the immediate beginning of the intra-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions, during which Syrians themselves, without outside interference, should determine the fate of their country."

"Of course, humanitarian issues should be addressed in parallel with this. Simultaneously, it is necessary to take steps to ensure the ceasefire with the exception of ISIL (former name of the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia - TASS), Jabhat al-Nusra (banned in Russia - TASS) and other terrorist groups," the minister said. "For us, it is absolutely clear that that there is no alternative to stepping up efforts to suppress terrorists. Otherwise, we risk losing this battle not only in Syria, but also in the entire Middle East and North Africa."

"At a time when some of our partners are trying to distort the meaning of UN Security Council decisions, trying to shift the focus from the war on terror to tackling other issues, actually conniving extremists in their unwillingness to stop their criminal acts, we need to coordinate our efforts very closely," Russia’s top diplomat said. "We have a lot of like-minded people. I am confident that both at this meeting and at the next meeting with our Iranian counterpart we will be able to hammer out a constructive solution."

According to Lavrov, he is planning to discuss the Russian-Syrian bilateral relations as well. He noted that is it quite difficult to develop cooperation in trade, economy and the humanitarian sphere now that the war is raging on in Syria. "However, we are doing and will be doing the best we can to support the Syrian people in this difficult time, all the more so when economic sanctions against Syria continue to be in effect and are even toughened, which directly affects the civilian population," the minister said.