BELGRADE, December 3. Russia urges Saudi Arabia not to exclude anyone from the meeting of the Syrian opposition, said the head of Russian foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov.
“The delegation of the Syrian opposition must absorb the entire spectrum of opposition forces, should not be a selective approach, no one group, like someone from outside, should not dominate, the Minister said. – We made proposals on the composition, in Saudi Arabia, the US have their views. It is important that the UN has compiled”.
“Saudi Arabia wants to hold a meeting of opposition activists, mostly those who she favors,” said Lavrov. The Minister recalled that at the Moscow meeting of the Syrian opposition were invited to all. “We advise Saudi Arabia to do the same, not excluding anybody from invited”, – said the head of the Russian foreign Ministry.
Russia is wary of attempts to declare terrorists in Syria “polumetrovymi”, to include them in the political process, Lavrov said.
According to him, none of the groups of the Syrian opposition should not dominate the delegations for negotiations with the government.
The delegation for negotiations
Lavrov urged as soon as possible to form a delegation of the Syrian opposition for talks.
The Minister said that he and U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry during meetings on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting “spoke on the implementation of the decisions that were reached in Vienna by the participants of International support for Syria.” “First of all clarity in who is considered terrorists, – said the Minister. – Here opinions vary a lot, including the United States coalition, the same Kurds”. “Some members of this coalition, in particular Turkey, occupy positions opposite to those approaches that are employed by the US and many Europeans,” – said Lavrov.
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“Talked about what you need as quickly as possible to assist the special envoy of the UN Secretary General, Staffan de Mistura, in the formation of the delegation of the Syrian opposition, said the Minister. – Because we all want to start a political process as soon as possible”.
“This can only be done when, along with the delegation of the government, which I understand, ready, will, and the delegation of the opposition, said Lavrov. – She has to, that delegation, to absorb the whole spectrum of opposition forces, with the exception of terrorists or extremists. And there should be some selectivity, some one group which is like someone from outside – it should not dominate this delegation”.
“This is a very difficult task, – said the head of the Russian foreign Ministry. – She is now actively engaged in”.
About Bashar Assad
The question of Bashar al-Assad in the framework of the Vienna process is closed, only the Syrian people can decide his fate, said the head of Russian foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov.
“Now some of our partners say they cannot provide this coordination in the fight against ISIS and other terrorists, until then, until you clear up the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, but we have this problem already closed at the Vienna meeting, he said. In the documents, which clearly says that only Syrian people can decide the fate of Syria.”
“This, in my opinion, says it all. Any conditions regarding the beginning of the political process and the attempts that would pre-empt the outcome, these documents do not contain, – said Lavrov. – How and do not contain any preconditions to intensify the fight against terrorism”.
About the London attacks on positions of the IG
The fight against terrorism on the territory of the other country must be based either on the consent of the government or a UN resolution. About this Lavrov said, commenting on the decision of great Britain to attack ISIS.
“As for the UK, we believe that any coalition, and the President again today said, should be based on a solid Foundation of international law – Lavrov said. It means either the decision of the UN Security Council or the consent of the government in whose territory the operation is to combat terrorism.”
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The Minister added that he had heard the words of David Cameron, who said about the right to action against ISIS in Syria on the basis of the adopted after the terrorist attack in Paris, the UN security Council resolution 2249.
“I want to draw attention to the very important fact that has allowed us the resolution to keep: it clearly says that the UN security Council encourages all who can do it, to cooperate in the fight against ISIS on the basis of international law, primarily on the basis of the UN Charter, and to coordinate their actions. This appeal clearly extends to the Syrian government because Syria is a country in which the IG carries out their evil plans, and call for coordination applies to anyone who fights with ISIS. So no need to be lawyers to understand the importance of this resolution and provided her mandate”, he concluded.
“ISLAMIC STATE”
“Islamic state” (ISIS) – an Islamist terrorist organization operating inside Iraq and Syria. Established on 15 October 2006 by the merger of 11 radical Sunni groups. The core group forming the militants, who fought with American troops during their stay in Iraq and with the forces of the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
The IG recognized as a terrorist organization in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, UAE, India, Indonesia, and Russia (29 December 2014).
