Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow on Tuesday, during which the two parties discussed among other issues the political aspect of the latest developments in Syria and agreed on coordinated actions in settling the conflict in the country.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow on Tuesday, during which the two parties discussed among other issues the political aspect of the latest developments in Syria and agreed on coordinated actions in settling the conflict in the country.
The two sides touched upon such issues as the complete eradication of the Islamic State and Nusra Front terrorist groups (both banned in Russia), promotion of political settlement, restoration of the country, return of refugees, as well as ensuring unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria.
In his talks with Muallem, Lavrov paid special attention to the discussion of the outcome of his recent meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir.
The discussion of the Russian-Syrian efforts to reconstruct Syria and return Syrian refugees to the county will be continued on Friday at Muallem's meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov.
WAR ON TERRORISM COMING TO VICTORIOUS END
The fight against terrorist organizations in Syria was at the center of bilateral talks. In this regard, Muallem stressed that Syria was making final steps in its fight against terrorism, adding that Damascus highly appreciated Russia's help in this matter.
"We also deeply appreciate the role of the Russian Federation in the fight against terrorism on the Syrian territory. We underline the particular role Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in this regard," Muallem said.
The Syrian foreign minister also commented on claims alleging Damascus' use of chemical weapons, stressing once again that Syria did not posses chemical warfare agents.
"Speaking about accusations alleging the use of chemical weapons [by Damascus], I would like to note that we do not posses such weapons and do not use them. We are defeating [terrorists] even without those weapons," the minister stressed.
The two ministers also paid particular attention to the situation in Syria's Idlib, where, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, terrorists might carry out a false-flag chemical attack against civilians in order to provoke western nations into retaliating against Damascus.
Thus, Muallem stressed that Damascus was determined to go through with freeing Idlib from terrorists.
"Speaking about Idlib, we are committed to go all the way with the issue, our main target is the Jabhat al-Nusra [another name for Nusra Front] militants. But I would like to note that our priority is to conclude as many reconciliation agreements as possible with all [the armed groups] willing to do so," Muallem indicated, adding that the Syrian government would make every effort to avoid bloodshed and civilian casualties.
Lavrov, in turn, revealed that during contacts with the Turkish colleagues it had been agreed that terrorists and opposition should be separated in Idlib as soon as possible.
"As for Russian-Turkish contacts, first of all, to address specific issues to relieve the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, preventing further use of the zone by terrorists, primarily by Jabhat al-Nusra, and tasks relating to the separation of the armed opposition, ready for a dialogue with the government, from terrorists, these contacts continue ... We do not have any artificial deadlines, this must be done as soon as possible," Lavrov said.
The Russian foreign minister also protested the terrorists' use of the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria for attacks on the Russian base and the Syrian army.
"It is unacceptable that the terrorists who are entrenched there, primarily from the Nusra Front, are trying to use this de-escalation zone to prepare attacks on the positions of the Syrian army and even for attempts to attack the Russian military base in Hmeimim using aerial drones," Lavrov emphasized.
Lavrov also warned the coalition of the Western states against provocative actions in the Syrian Idlib area in a bid to impede the counterterrorism activities in the de-escalation zone.
DUPLICITY OF WESTERN STATES COALITION
Speaking about the actions of the Western coalition in Syria, Muallem said he believed that the leading coalition members, namely France, the United States and the United Kingdom, were unhappy with the success of the Syrian army in its fight against terrorists and hampered the promotion of political process in the country.
"The United States, the United Kingdom and France are absolutely unhappy with such development of the situation on the ground, therefore they are making numerous attempts to impede the progress in the political process, including within the framework of the [UN] Security Council. In particular, we see that from their attempts to protect Nusra Front insurgents. They want the crisis in our country to continue," Muallem stated.
Lavrov, for his part, noted that the Western countries continued to manipulate the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and used chemical attacks provocations to carry out attacks against the Syrian army.
Muallem added that the United States had lost the war in Syria in a military sense and explained that Washington was now trying to compensate the failures of its operation in the country by creating fuss about the Syrian political process.
The Syrian foreign minister also warned the United States against military aggression in Syria, saying that Damascus would not hesitate to retaliate in such a case.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister suspected Washington of attempts to split Syria by establishing quasi-public authorities on the left bank of the Euphrates.
"The US presence in Syria has not only a military aspect... Simultaneously, our US colleagues are actively developing the eastern bank of the Euphrates, restoring infrastructure there, social and economic networks and even creating quasi-state local government bodies ... This is worrying, it is fraught with attempts to split Syria, which is absolutely unacceptable" Lavrov indicated.
CREATING ENVIRONMENT FOR PEACEFUL LIFE
Speaking about the reconstruction of war-ravaged Syria, Lavrov emphasized that all the conditions for the beginning of normal life in the country already existed.
"This meeting, we believe, is very and very timely: even though challenges of eradicating terrorists on Syrian territory still exist, there is every reason to launch work to create conditions for peaceful life and the return of refugees," Lavrov indicated.
The minister added that the country's reconstruction should take place simultaneously with the political process and stated that Russia was ready to boost its contribution to restoring Syria and resolving the issue with the return of refugees to the country.
Muallem, in turn, said that Damascus would give priority to the Russian side in the implementation of projects aimed at Syria's reconstruction.
"We are currently approaching meeting the goal of terrorism eradication in Syria ... We would like to note in this regard that the priority will be given to Russia in the implementation of projects [to rebuild the country]," Muallem indicated.
In the context of restoring peaceful life in Syria, the two sides also gave serious consideration to the efforts aimed at ensuring the early and safe return of the Syrian refugees to their home country.
