Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Walid Muallem, Moscow, August 30, 2018
Ladies and gentlemen,
We covered the entire spectrum of foreign policy cooperation during our talks and consider them to be very useful.
Of course, we focused on the situation in and around Syria and the situation in the Middle East and North Africa in general.
We noted with satisfaction that the larger portion of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic has been liberated from terrorists. We must still eliminate the remaining hotbeds of terrorism, primarily in the vicinity of the Idlib de-escalation zone. It is unacceptable that the terrorists, primarily from Jabhat al-Nusra, who have holed up there, are trying to use this de-escalation zone to prepare attacks on the positions of the Syrian army and even attempts to use drones to attack the Russian military base in Khmeimim.
We exchanged our assessments of the course of action to separate the armed opposition groups that are willing to establish a dialogue with the Syrian government from the remaining terrorists. We discussed the talks that Russia is conducting with Turkey on that issue.
Our Syrian friends shared information about their efforts to achieve more local ceasefires with the armed groups in Idlib who would like to dissociate themselves from Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as their efforts to ensure the safety of civilians in this de-escalation zone.
Both sides confirmed their commitment to the early start of a political process based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the agreements that were reached between the Syrians themselves during the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi.
We reviewed issues related to creating proper conditions for the expeditious return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. Minister Muallem spoke about the steps taken by the Syrian Government to ensure that such a return would include a safe and non-discriminatory attitude towards the returnees.
We are unanimous in our belief that mobilising the international community to participate in creating conditions for the return of refugees, including humanitarian aid, assistance in restoring socioeconomic infrastructure, and implementing projects to provide jobs for the returnees are urgent matters. Russia is willing to increase its contribution to resolving these issues which will be priority discussion items during tomorrow’s talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Muallem and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yury Borisov acting as co-chairmen of the Russian-Syrian Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
We believe other countries should actively join these efforts. The UN has a special role to play here, as well as the institutions that function within the organisation, such as various specialised agencies, foundations and programmes. In accordance with their statutory documents, they should be actively involved in mobilising international assistance for the above purposes.
It is well known that progress in a Syrian settlement and fighting terrorism, addressing humanitarian issues and creating proper conditions for returning refugees are not to everyone’s liking. Efforts are being made to hamper these processes through various provocateurs, including extremists and established provocateurs who call themselves White Helmets and are notorious for staging scenes of alleged use of chemical agents by the Syrian government to give Western countries an excuse to attack Syria. Another such provocation is underway in order to obstruct the anti-terrorist operation in Idlib. Through our Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry, we used facts to clearly and strictly talk our Western partners out of “playing with fire.”
Instead of unilateral geopolitical projects, we urge everyone, including the Arab countries, Europe and the United States, to join forces for a peaceful and stable Syria. Stability in this country is critical for ensuring security and prosperity in the entire Middle Eastern and North African region.
We agreed on further coordination of our actions on the Syrian settlement and other aspects of the agenda in this region which is important for the future of the world.