MOSCOW (Dispatches) – Moscow views U.S. statements on the possibility of reaching an agreement with terrorists in Syria as unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.
"Both Nusra Front and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are officially included in the UN Security Council’s lists of terrorist organizations. They are also included in the national lists of terrorist organizations in the United States. Nevertheless, it is not the first time that Washington officials, including U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement [James] Jeffrey, have made statements suggesting that they view Tahrir al-Sham as not such a terrorist organization. And that it would be possible to establish a dialogue with it under some circumstances,” Lavrov said at a press conference.
"This is not the first time we hear such hints — which are quite transparent — and we consider them absolutely unacceptable,” the minister added.
A series of consultations between Moscow and Ankara on the situation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib is currently being prepared, Lavrov said on Monday.
"Now the next series of consultations is being prepared, which we hope will be able to lead us [Russia and Turkey] to an agreement on how to ensure that this [Idlib] really is a de-escalation zone and that terrorists do not control it,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
The Russian foreign minister also added that Moscow would continue to confront terrorists in Idlib.
"Therefore, I hope that the ongoing contacts between our us and the Turkish military, with the participation of diplomats and security services will end positively and we can still make sure that the terrorists do not control this part of Syria, as they should not be in control of any part of the country,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov added that per Russian-Turkish agreement the opposition in Idlib had to separate itself from the terrorists.