Sergey Lavrov on Russia’s Claims to United States on Syria

Russia urges the US to intervene with the Syrian opposition to disassociate them from the military group Jebhat en-Nusra and leave the territory of its bases. This was announced today at a press conference in Baku by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, commenting on the agenda of the upcoming meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry on July 14.

"We aim to ensure that the cessation of hostilities was carried out in strict accordance with the agreements, which are recorded in the UN Security Council resolution, namely the regime does not apply to the Islamic State, Jebhat en-Nusra and other terrorist organizations designated as such in the decisions of the UN Security Council," Lavrov said.

According to him, the problem of implementation of this arrangement is that Jebhat en-Nusra mimics, particularly in the Aleppo area, and creates other groups under different names around itself. "In particular, this is Jaish al-Fath, in which en-Nusra plays a leading role.

"We have been talking on this subject with the Americans since January, when they promised that all troops cooperating with Washington will be withdrawn from the position of Jebhat en-Nusra. Until now, this has not been done," Lavrov said.

He also criticized the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Syria Staffan de Mistur, who "takes time off" from the organization of the next round of Syrian internal negotiations, referring to the dialogue on this issue between the US and Russia.

Lavrov said that the US-Russian negotiations cannot replace internal Syrian dialogue. He also condemned the requirement of the Syrian opposition on Assad's compulsory resignation. -06C-