MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Russia will not "chase" US military out from Syria or engage in hostilities, but it does engage in a dialogue with Washington, trying to ensure compliance with certain rules, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday, commenting on the US sanctions against Syria, combined with the US military presence in the republic.
"Yes, we have contacts with the US in the military - not because we recognize the legitimacy of their presence there, but simply because they have to act within certain boundaries," the minister pointed out. "We cannot chase them out of there, we will not engage in hostilities, of course. But, since they are already there, we engage in a dialogue on the so-called de-conflicting, in which we seek to ensure compliance with certain rules."
Lavrov noted that Russia is adamant about the unacceptability "of the use of force against the objects that belong to the Syrian state."
He reminded that the UN Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted unanimously, demands to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Syrian Arab Republic.
"What the US do in Syria is, of course, a blatant violation of this resolution," the minister said. "The Washington’s line on blocking shipments of humanitarian aid to the Syrian Arab Republic via all possible means of blackmail and ultimatums, is a violation of this resolution, as well."
The minister pointed out that the resolution demands to ensure the humanitarian aid to the Syrian people.
"The US do everything they can to prevent this from happening," he added. "They imposed the harshest sanctions, the notorious so-called Caesar Act."
Lavrov also provided the ban for international organization to take part in the refugee repatriation conference that took place in Damascus last November.
"Nevertheless, about 20 countries took part [in the conference], including five Arab states who were above this fear before the American hegemon," he noted.
At same time, the Foreign inister noted, while forbidding everyone from sending even the humanitarian aid to Syria, the US itself has "occupied significant territories on the east bank of Euprates, and exploit mercilessly the Syrian hydrocarbons, Syrian national wealth, the rob it, sell it, and using the money gained, they fund their viceroys, including the Kurdish separatists, persuading the Kurds not to engage in a dialogue with Damascus, and promoting separatist ideas."
"This, of course, causes serious problems in Turkey, as you know. But, what is the most important, that all this takes place on the Syrian territory that nobody invited the Americans and their little Western allies to," Lavrov underscored.