MOSCOW, January 23 (Itar-Tass) — Russia so far has no plans to cut the number of Russian embassy personnel in Damascus, RF Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“As for the embassy, we believe that there should be non-essential staff there, not needed for everyday activities,” the minister said. “Actually, there are no such staff members there.” “The families have left a long time ago because the work there is not very quiet,” he explained.

“The embassy is fully operational,” Lavrov emphasised. “It fulfils the set tasks, maintains contacts with the Syrian leadership, with the opposition forces. So far there are no other plans.”

However, the Russian foreign minister said that as any country, Russia “has plans in case the situation deteriorates.”