Lavrov says Western countries admit no excuses to delay anti-IS efforts

MOSCOW, June 3. /TASS/. Most of the Western partners admit that there should be no excuses to delay the defeat of Islamic State, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the 360 television channel.

"Dialogue is rather intensive," he said, adding that the situation in Syria is still difficult.

"A key thing is that we are confident that more efficient anti-terrorism measures are needed, while all other things are of secondary importance. It is vital to ensure humanitarian access, to observe the ceasefire regime," he said.

"Terrorism is a common threat and most of our Western partners admit in our contacts that there should be no excuses to delay the defeat of Islamic State," Lavrov stressed, adding that the United States is falling under the "influence of those who seek to advance preliminary conditions."

"We believe that all other things are of secondary importance," the Russian top diplomat noted. "Of course, it is vital to ensure humanitarian access to besieged settlements, it is also vital to observe the ceasefire regime and prevent violations, it is likewise vital to launch political process stymied by the radical opposition which refuses to sit down at the negotiating table and keeps on advancing preliminary conditions."

"But however important these things might be, terrorism is a common threat and most of our Western partners admit in our contacts that there should be no excuses to delay the defeat of Islamic State and Jabhat Al Nusra which is trying to merge with other groups," Lavrov stressed.

Nevertheless, according to the Russian top diplomat, Moscow is asked not to hit the latter [Jabhat Al Nusra] as "it incorporates ‘normal’ opposition." "Such opposition is strongly recommended to depart from the terrorists’ positions and an agreement to this effect was reached long ago," he said.

Cooperation with the United States

"Our American partners are still strongly influenced by those who are seeking to advance preliminary conditions," Lavrov went on to say. "Earlier in the day, I had another conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. It was, I think, 34th conversation since January. We discuss these things in detail."

Apart from that, Russia’s base in Syria’s Hmeymim has a videoconference channel with American representatives in the Jordanian capital city. "They maintain contacts practically every day," he said. "As you know, A Russian-U.S. center to ensure a rapid response to violations of the ceasefire in Syria has been opened in Geneva."

"So, the infrastructure of contacts has been established. The main thing now is to try to overcome preliminary conditions that are to be put aside and focus on anti-terrorism efforts," Lavrov underscored.