MOSCOW, February 24. In the Kremlin called a priority the implementation of agreements on ceasefire in Syria, and not the preparation of contingency plans. This was stated to journalists the President’s press Secretary Dmitry Peskov.
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“Currently, (we) focus on plan “A”, and we believe that to discuss and work to implement that plan, the initiative, which was formulated on the eve of the presidents of the two countries – this is our priority”, – said the representative of the Kremlin, commenting on the statement of Washington to discuss plan “B” in case of failure of the truce agreement in Syria..
“Concentrate entirely now on the tasks formulated by the presidents of the two countries. Believe it premature to talk about any other plans, because the most urgent task now is to reach a ceasefire in respect of those groups that support the initiative of the two presidents,” added Sands, answering the question of whether there was a plan “B” in Moscow.
The Washington plan B
On the eve of U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry said that Washington and its foreign allies and partners are currently actively discussing a plan of action in case the ceasefire and the peace process in Syria will not happen: “Now there is considerable discussion about a plan B in case we don’t succeed at the table (of negotiations)”. To clarify, what exactly is alternative courses of action, he did not.
The agreement on cease-fire
On Monday evening the Russian Federation and the USA issued a joint statement saying that the ceasefire in Syria will come into force on 27 February at 00:00 time of Damascus (01:00 GMT). The statement stressed that the truce apply to all parties to the conflict, with the exception of terrorist groups “Islamic state” and “dzhebhat EN-Nusra” (both banned in Russia), as well as other terrorist organizations recognized by the Security Council.
UN Secretary-General ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement. He also reported that his special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who acts as the mediator in inter-Syrian negotiations, “ready to support the implementation of the agreement as the place of events in Damascus and Geneva.”
The main goal at this stage stop the bloodshed in Syria
The main purpose adopted in Monday statements by Moscow and Washington at this stage stop the bloodshed in Syria, said Sands.
“Once again I remind that in his address the President said that Russia has in mind to work closely with Damascus, to the legitimate Syrian government, but hopes that our American partners will do our part and use its influence against those groups that they support, – said Peskov. – However, the main purpose is to stop the bloodshed in Syria and thus create the ground for political settlement. This is the main goal.”
The Kremlin spokesman stressed that now is conducted active diplomatic work. “We are very intensive contact, and because countries (Russia and USA) will now fully use its influence on those or other forces, factions and parties to the conflict”, – he explained.
Thus, according to Peskov, the interaction between Moscow and Washington has a positive effect on the achievement of mutual understanding between countries. “Of course, the interaction in varying degrees one way or another leads, say, to increase the level of mutual trust, – said the official. – Despite all differences, still the manifestation of a certain political and other will sometimes allows Moscow and Washington to go to very important results, as, for example, it was with chemical weapons in Syria.” “Let’s not forget that the precedent for such productive interactions have already been in the recent past,” he said.
“Moscow and Damascus have a similar but not identical views”
Peskov also said that Moscow and Damascus are in constant dialogue and have a similar but not necessarily identical, views on the Syrian settlement.
“Moscow and Damascus have largely similar views on what is happening and the prospects of a political settlement, but these points of view are not absolutely identical to each other. Of course, there are differences,” – said the representative of the Kremlin.
However, he concluded that “Moscow and Damascus are in constant dialogue,” without which it would be impossible to engage the Syrian settlement.
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