Publish Date: 25 October 2015 - 14:24

MOSCOW, Oct. 25 (MNA) – Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, praised yesterday the efforts and understanding of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, in the process of internal political consolidation, as a prerequisite for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Arab country.

Lavrov said during an interview in the weekly news program of Rossiya 1 that the Syrian president understands the need of consolidating society and the need to begin the process of comprehensive dialogue between all political forces.

“Assad perfectly understands that even the military phase of opposing terrorism must be supplemented by the consolidation of the healthiest part of society towards an inclusive process,” Lavrov explained.

He said that such a step should balance the interests of all political, ethnic and religious segments of Syrian society and its representation in state power structures.

Lavrov highlighted that Russia hopes that the political process could move forward in Syria's foreseeable future, which means, according to the minister, that “they need to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections.”

He considered other countries are beginning to better understand the Syrian situation, despite their anti-Assad rhetoric.

In this regard, Lavrov stressed the need for active role to be played by Western actors in ensuring that all Syrians get to the negotiating table, but emphasized, that only the Syrians should design the algorithm of coexistence in their country, with an inclusive view of the interests of each group.

For the Minister it is important that the successes of the government army with the support of Russian aerospace forces are reversed in favor of Damascus, which is facing the inexorable process of national reconciliation.

The armed conflict that erupted in 2011 caused more than 220.000 deaths, according to the United Nations.

Thousands of Syrians were victims of ethnic killings and summary executions by religious reason, perpetrated by the ISIL, the al-Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations.

Regarding the fight against terrorism in Syria, Lavrov criticized the US for its refusal to coordinate collective actions with Russia and legitimize that campaign, launched by Washington a year ago, without mandate of the UN Security Council.

We are prepared for such coordination, said the Minister and referred to Moscow's willingness to include the so-called 'patriotic opposition' and the Free Syrian Army.

He highlighted the US refusal to provide information on the location, according to the Pentagon, of the terrorists and the so-called 'patriotic opposition', and stressed the importance for Moscow of contacting with representatives or armed groups, which also fighting terrorism.

The head of Russian diplomacy rejected the participation of a small circle of international negotiators, which in his opinion, is insufficient to solve the Syrian crisis.

Lavrpov opted for the presence of Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, included  by American initiative.

 

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