MUNICH, 12 February. The outcome of the meeting of the support Group Syria has become unconditional confirmation resolution 2254 of the UN security Council, said foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov.
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In the mandate of the panel U.S. – Russia ceasefire in Syria will include the identification of areas occupied by terrorists, Lavrov also said.
According to him, Moscow hopes that the West will affect the opposition to allow humanitarian access to Syria. Humanitarian access in Syria will be provided without discrimination from any quarter, said the head of the Russian foreign Ministry.
He added that humanitarian access to the cities of Syria were often disrupted by the fault of the opposition. “We have been concerned about, in particular the fact that previous efforts of the United Nations (humanitarian access), when similar solutions were worked out between the Syrian government and the opposition, often frustrated through the fault of the latter,” he said.
The Minister also said that Russia carried out an air delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria to join the USA.
“We will, as written in today’s papers, we will work with government and other opposition groups who have contact with us – Lavrov said. – We expect that both the U.S. and the countries of the region, other members of the support Group Syria will use its influence with relevant opposition groups to cooperate fully with the UN”.
“We have a common commitment to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, we hope that it will be done, – continued the Minister. – This is especially important given the fact that some of the recent measures to address humanitarian issues in Syria applied to refugees only and do not affect the fate of a huge number of internally displaced persons. Therefore, there is reason to hope that today we made useful thing and it will be translated into practical action”.
“Welcome the willingness of the United States, other countries, to join the operation, which Russia along with the Syrian government conducts the dropping of humanitarian aid from aircraft in Deir-ez-Zor, where has been under siege the largest number of civilians, said the Minister. – We also agreed to use presyterian humanitarian assistance and in other areas where the situation allows it”.
“But the bulk of the effort, of course, have to make “on the ground”, he stressed.
Ground operations
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Ground operation in Syria will only exacerbate the conflict, and will not lead to victory over the “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in the Russian Federation terrorist group). This was stated today by the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov.
“This terminology game from the same series, as statements about some “plans “B”, that it is necessary to prepare ground forces to defeat ISIS, he said. – This is a very slippery slope. But there is no doubt that this will lead to an exacerbation of the conflict”.
Troops of the Syrian government with the support of the Russian Federation ATT provided unlock Aleppo from the East, said the head of the Russian foreign Ministry.
At the same time, said Sergei Lavrov, the proposals of the Russian Federation on military cooperation between the US and Russia in Syria remain in force.
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Moscow urges US to defer the election of a geopolitical game together to fight terrorism in Syria. “You can conclude that we (the U.S. Secretary of state) John Kerry are not all the same in the assessments of what is happening and there are differences, he said. – Therefore, to clarify these questions, like many others, the key is to establish direct contacts – not only on procedures to avoid incidents, but for cooperation in Syria between the military coalition and the U.S. military, which in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government. From this we will proceed”.
“I have no doubt that if what we have agreed today (about establishing contacts between the military), they are, practical issues will be addressed effectively”, – said Lavrov.
“Because it is simply unfounded to say the five months that we are “doing something wrong” and categorically refuse to sit down and watch with the cards in the hands of the facts is propaganda, – noted the Minister. – We see many manifestations (propaganda) in the media of other countries.”
“We should finish this, said the Minister. – Instead of on each other to point the finger each time, it is important to understand that they have a common enemy, and all the concerns of their image before the next election or just with the political events need to be put aside and not to engage in geopolitical games, and decision problems”.
“The problem that has become truly existential for the human civilization”, – said Lavrov.
About the operation HQs of the Russian Federation
The truce in Syria does not extend to terrorists, so the operation VKS RF against them will continue, said Lavrov.
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“In our recorded documents – and we said this – that the truce will not apply to the Islamic state and “dzhebhat EN-nusra” and other affiliated organizations recognized as terrorist by the decision of the UN security Council, so our HQs will continue to work against these organizations”.
“About the task force, which is created in the elaboration of the modalities and the subsequent monitoring of compliance with the terms of the armistice with the participation of the military, I think that this will effectively help to solve many problems and remove misunderstandings, miscommunication, – said Lavrov. – We believe this is one of the most important results of the meeting”.
Lavrov also noted that the working group co-chaired by Russia and the United States will develop the modalities of ceasefire in a week.
“We have agreed this week to prepare modality, which will determine the cessation of hostilities, based on the fact that during this time both the government and armed groups will be able to take the necessary measures to end the conflict, he said. – Modality will be developed in another task force that will be co-chaired by Russia and the United States.”
“It will include both military and diplomats… – said Lavrov. – It is important that the mandate of this group included identifying areas that are under the control of terrorists”.
On the intra-Syrian talks
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The cessation of armed confrontation in Syria will be the first step for the establishment of the ceasefire.
The outcome of the Group support Syria for the first time establishes not only humanitarian, but also military cooperation on Syria, Lavrov said.
Sergey Lavrov also stressed that the inter-Syrian negotiations should resume without preconditions and ultimatums.
“No less important (achieved at the meeting) a clear confirmation to comply fully with UN security Council resolution calling for an end to the flows of militants and illegal oil trade and other smuggling, said the Minister. – This is an important reminder, because resolution is important to perform in full”.
“Today emphasized the importance of restarting the negotiation process, when one part of the opposition took an unconstructive position and put forward the preconditions, said Lavrov. – The negotiations should resume as soon as possible, without ultimatums and preconditions must include a broad range of opposition forces”.
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“Not all opposition groups had been invited for talks. We expect that the UN will be guided strictly by the principles of resolution 2254”, he added.
Lavrov also stressed that to put forward on negotiations with Damascus, only a part of the Syrian opposition, the rest of appointing “advisers”, will not work. “That (political) transition should be based on the consent of the government and a broad spectrum of the opposition prefer not to remember. Believe that it is possible to invite a delegation of the opposition, which is only a part of the foreign opponents of the regime, and to make other consultants, he said. – It won’t work”.
In the first round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva in early February representatives of the “Moscow-Cairo group” of the opposition in the official documents of the office of the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was designated not as the opposition but as “political figures” or “consultants”.
He also added that the transition of power in Syria should not turn into a revolution, everything should be done with approval of the government and the opposition. “The principle of a political solution in Syria is the agreement on transitional provision on the basis of mutual consent between the government and the whole spectrum of the opposition”, – said the Minister.
According to him, the reached agreements “to follow comprehensively, and not to pull out words like “transition”.
The UK’s Position
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At the same time, British foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, commenting on the agreement reached by the participants of the International support group Syria (MGPS) the agreement on the ceasefire in Syria, said that the ceasefire in Syria should include stopping the attacks of the Russian Air and space forces (VKS).
According to him, agreed today in Munich, the plan “will be a success only if there will be major changes in the behavior of the Syrian regime and those who support it”. “Russia, in particular, argues that attacking terrorist groups, but not consistently bombing the extremist group,” he argued. “In order for the agreement to work, these bombings must stop: the cessation of hostilities will not last long if the blows will be struck by moderate opposition groups,” said the Minister.
He added that in the case of “full and proper” application of the agreed today at a meeting MGPS measures they can “be an important step towards reducing the number of murders and suffering in Syria.”
A truce will come in a week
The truce in Syria should come in one week. This was stated by foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier reporters following a meeting of the international support Group Syria in Munich.
According to him, it must be the result of a de-escalation of hostilities, which must begin immediately. “We have agreed today that will immediately begin a significant reduction in the level of violence that must end after a week of the ceasefire, he said. Under the ceasefire aware of clashes between government forces, on the one hand, and of the militia of the opposition, on the other hand”.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said that Russia and Iran should pressure the regime in Syria to his side followed by a ceasefire and a truce should begin and the Syrian opposition.
“Now we are talking about Moscow and Tehran forced the regime (Syrian President Bashar) Assad to cease fire. This concerns, on the other hand, numerous associations and the Syrian opposition must stop fighting,” said the Minister.
Steinmeier stressed that the truce will not affect all recognized terrorist organizations. “A truce does not mean that the Islamic state and “dzhebhat EN-nusra” (a terrorist organization banned in Russia – approx.) it can be used to reinforce its influence in Syria,” he said.
He stressed that the outcome of the negotiations affect humanitarian and de-escalation in Syria in the coming days, and the first deliveries of humanitarian aid will take place before the end of the week.
“The agreement was clear that the first deliveries should take place before the weekend,” he said. According to the head of the foreign Ministry, the UN office in Geneva created a special unit to ensure Syria humanitarian aid. “The first objective is our commitment to deliver food and medicines to where they need,” he said.
There is an agreement to immediately begin to “significantly reduce” the level of violence in Syria, said Steinmeier. However, according to him, the truce in Syria will not affect IG and “An-nusra”.
In the UN office in Geneva created a special unit to ensure Syria humanitarian aid, he added.
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In turn, the U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry announced that the Group’s support of Syria has confirmed its intention to achieve a settlement in Syria based on the Geneva process with a view to the creation in Damascus of the new government.
According to him, over the coming weeks, during which participants MGPS intend to work to ensure a ceasefire in Syria, “the regime (of Bashar) Assad and opposition need to take its decisions”. “They can enter into consultations”, – says Kerry.
However, he continued, the peace in Syria “will only be possible if the parties themselves (conflict) will be at the table for genuine negotiations to perform (maintained) that we reaffirmed – the Geneva process, the Geneva communiqué, which calls for the transfer by mutual consent to (the new government in Damascus), possessing all completeness of Executive power”.
“We are doing everything diplomatically possible to put an end to this conflict so that maintains a single, secular,.. protecting minority rights, the whole state”, – assured the head of the foreign Department of the USA. As he acknowledged, “it is a difficult task”. “But we are convinced that this is the only way Syria can survive and begin to thrive,” added the chief of U.S. diplomacy.
John Kerry also said that Russia from the first meeting of the International support group Syria (MGPS) in Vienna was ready for a cease-fire in Syria. “At the first meeting MGPS in Vienna and at the second meeting in new York, Russia was ready to ensure a ceasefire as well as today. said the chief of U.S. diplomacy. – Similarly, Iran was talking about this at the first meeting in Vienna.”
Kerry stressed that neither Russia nor Iran were a cause of “stopping the ceasefire is at the very beginning” negotiation. “I want it to be clear and (UN special envoy ) Staffan (de Mistura) agree with this and other members MGPS too,” concluded Kerry.
Kerry also noted that the participants MGPS agreed to accelerate the pace of the delivery to Syria of humanitarian assistance and to increase its volume.
“First, we agreed from that moment to accelerate and expand the delivery of humanitarian aid. Sustained deliveries will start this week, first in the areas where these shipments are in dire need,” said the foreign Minister of the United States.
As he said, it is primarily about the localities of Deir-ez-Zor, al-Foy, Kepra, Madai, Muadamiyah, Kfar Batna and “the besieged parts of the countryside near Damascus”. And then such deliveries are scheduled to begin “to all in need throughout the country, especially in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, small towns,” said Kerry.
According to him, in order to monitor the implementation of such arrangements, the UN will form a “working group composed of members MGPS and relevant UN agencies, as well as States with influence on the parties” to the Syrian conflict. “This working group will meet tomorrow (Friday) in Geneva. She will ensure that humanitarian access was granted by all parties to all people who need help,” said the chief of U.S. diplomacy. According to stated information, the team will report on a weekly basis “about progress or lack of it”.
On this set of issues in MGPS the decision was “unanimous, all agreed on the urgency (security) humanitarian access,” stressed Kerry. As he stated, yet “there are words on paper”. You want “in the next few days were action on the ground,” said U.S. Secretary of state.
In addition, he continued, “participants MGPS will work with the Syrian parties” to ensure “instant approval… all requests of the UN on getting humanitarian access”. Such queries were about 114, and the approval got about 13-14 of them, told Kerry.
U.S. Secretary of state also noted that the members want MGPS settlement of the Syrian conflict, but there are differences in how this should happen, and what effect lead. “This is the main problem, I suppose,” he said.
Referring to the ceasefire in Syria, Kerry stressed that all members should MGPS “to ensure that it will be fully implemented”. “And everyone is responsible for helping in this, all members MHPS you should try to do this, including Russia and Iran,” said the chief of U.S. diplomacy.
All participants of the International support group Syria (MGPS) insisted on an early resumption of inter-Syrian talks under the auspices of the UN, seeing in this the only solution to the conflict in Syria, said Kerry.
According to his testimony, “all members MHPS agreed that the Geneva talks should resume as soon as possible” in “strict compliance with Security Council resolution UN 2254”. MGPS “will do everything possible to promote the progress” in the negotiations of the parties of the Syrian conflict, said the foreign Minister of the United States.
He recalled that MHPS in December last year agreed on the “six-month schedule of political transition” to the new government in Damascus. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to this segment of time,” said Kerry.
As noted by the chief of U.S. diplomacy, controversy about settlement of the conflict in Syria “must be addressed in the context of the negotiations on the future (the President of Syria Bashar) Assad”. However, “in order to achieve agreements, need to be present at the negotiating table”, Kerry stated, referring to the Syrian government and the opposition.
On cooperation with Russia in Syria
U.S. Secretary of state said that all participating countries MGPS pledged to cooperate with Russia in Syria, including the military aspects.
“We MHPS also agreed that the ceasefire (in Syria), effectively impossible to establish, as it is impossible to ensure humanitarian access without all members MGPS worked with Russia and others to ensure that access was granted, and the cessation of hostilities had taken place, – said the head of foreign policy Department of the USA. – To this end, we agreed – all of us – to work with Russia in a manner that affects the political, humanitarian and military components of this problem.”
To monitor the situation in 7 points, Syria
In turn, the UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura expressed the view that to achieve the cessation of hostilities in Syria during the week will be difficult, but it is what the inhabitants of the country.
“That’s a pretty big challenge to achieve this in such a short period of time. But is that asking people (in Syria),” he said.
According to de Mistura, we are not talking about a full ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. “This is in some sense easier and more efficient, because it requires only the decision”, – said the special envoy. He assured that the UN is ready to assist in achieving the objective, but the main work should be done the US and Russia are co-chairs MGPS and the working group on the truce.
De Mistura stressed that if the Syrian people will see the real results, we believe in negotiations, the renewal of which is scheduled for February 25, and “the private future”. According to him, for a long time the Syrians are begging for two things: to stop the bombing and provide them with humanitarian assistance. Today need it more than 13.5 million people in the country.
The UN humanitarian and rake the soil
As stated by de Mistura, in addition to the ceasefire in the coming days will do much to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria – one of the main demands of the Syrian opposition.
According to the emissary of a specially formed working group under the leadership of the UN will try to gain access in seven areas of Syria to provide humanitarian assistance to the population. Among them Deir-ez-Zor, where Russia for several weeks to deliver humanitarian cargo on parachute platforms.
“We’ll check out 7 places. One of them is in Deir-ez-Zor, in which aid can be delivered only by the discharge from the air,” said Staffan de Mistura. According to him, the work will begin no later than Tuesday. “We will see where we will have problems, as we often had before. If they happen again – we will contact you, we will refer to MHPS and say we need help,” said the special envoy.
The situation in the region
Summing up the meeting in Munich, de Mistura noted that it showed that MGPS “ready to commit” to resolve the conflict in Syria. “Many worried, would the tensions in the region mean that some countries will not participate in the meeting. Today we saw the opposite: Saudi Arabia, Iran, were all here. They were all here and were ready to negotiate for hours over”, he said
