Russian top diplomat points to growing mutual understanding with US in Syria

Washington has started to realize the situation needs a change, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Coordination with the US in Syria leaves much to be desired but Washington has started to realize the situation needs a change, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"At the moment, coordination leaves much to be desired. However, we have reasons to believe that our counterparts have started to realize that the situation needs to be changed," the Russian top diplomat said. "Let us hope that we all will focus on the war on terror, which is a priority task, instead of trying to gain some political advantages in Syria."

Joint effort

All parties involved in combating terrorism in Syria need to coordinate their actions, particularly with Damascus, Lavrov said.

According to earlier reports, armed units of the Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by around 100 US marines and US-led coalition aircraft, took control of the Tabqa airbase located 50 kilometers from Raqqa.

"All steps aimed at facilitating the fight against terrorists, first and foremost, the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and other terror groups, is in line with the UN Security Council’s decisions," Lavrov noted. "Eliminating terrorism in Syria, Iran and in other parts of the world is in our common interest."

"In Syria, many parties are involved in military activities, including the Syrian army, the Syrian militia and opposition units. There is also the Kurdish militia seeking to defend the rights of the Kurds," the Russian top diplomat went on to say. "There are Russia’s Aerospace Force and our military experts invited by the Syrian government. The Iranian units and Hezbollah were also invited." There are also many who have not been invited, Lavrov added mentioning the US-led coalition, the Turkish military forces and special forces from the US and some European countries."

"We believe, as we have been saying for a long time, that the fight against terrorism should be a priority," the Russian top diplomat said. "We call upon those who were invited by the legitimate [Syrian] government as well as on those who have been active there without such invitation but claims to be combating terrorists, to start coordinating their actions. This also envisages coordination with the Syrian government," Lavrov concluded.