Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused some of the regional actors in the Syria conflict of unwillingness to recognize that the Syrian army of President Bashar Assad was the most significant force that fights the Islamic State and other Islamist Organizations, while noting that Moscow understands the concerns of Turkey, Israel and other countries in the Middle East that border with the war-torn country… saying that Russia was in dialogue with those states to assist in preserving their security. “Yes we are, as I said, in touch with regional countries. We understand their concerns, the real challenges to their security – be Turkey, be it Israel, be other countries – and we have a dialogue with them trying to make sure that whatever they are concerned of being resolved in the framework of international law. It is not, it is not difficult. It is not impossible. The basic problem in this regard is unwillingness of some of regional players to recognize that, whatever you say, whatever you send your friends in the armed opposition, the single biggest most efficient force fighting ISIL and Nusra in Syria is the Syrian army,” Lavrov said.
With regard to the nation-wide cessation of hostilities that was initiated by Washington and Moscow, yet collapsed after one week, the Russian top diplomat said the key factor of the failed ceasefire was the inability of the US-led coalition to control the opposition groups fighting in Syria, revealing that the groups joined forces with the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front, which changed its name to Jabhat Fattah al-Sham, to try and conceal the fact that Western backed groups are ‘in bed with terrorists’. “I said that any truce, seven days, three days, would be senseless, because I gave you examples of what was going on after 12th of September when the document was enforced – 350 attacks by the opposition, close to Nusra, against government troops and against living quarters; People get killed from the Syrian army, from the civilian population, and absolute inability of the American coalition to deliver on the pulling back on Costello Road, which the government started doing actually. And they just refused. So we want to see any sign which would prove that the coalition has influence on those who are on the ground facing the government. I don’t think it’s asking too much,” Lavrov said.
The comments by Russia’s top diplomat came before a meeting at the United Nations Security Council, at the request of the United States, Britain and France to discuss the escalation of fighting in the northern Syrian district of Aleppo, following the announcement of an offensive by the Syrian army to retake the city. During the meeting, a heated debate ensued between Moscow and Washington, during which the United States called Russia’s action in Syria “barbarism” not counter-terrorism, while Moscow’s UN envoy accused the US’ arming of rebel groups and ‘indiscriminate strikes’ bringing a reality in which ending the war “is almost an impossible task.” “What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism it is barbarism.” She added, “Russia and Assad have reportedly launched more than 150 airstrikes over the last 72 hours killing at least 139 people and injuring hundreds more. Laying waste to what is left of an iconic Middle Eastern city. These are people who have suffered horribly in the five and a half years of war. Yet they call the attacks from the air unprecedented in quantity and quality.” Adding, “Now instead of pursuing peace Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get lifesaving aid to civilians Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive,” Samantha Power said.
“As a result in Syria, hundreds of armed groups are being armed, the territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now,” Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
Since the beginning of the war in Syria, some 5 and a half years ago, more than half a million people were killed and some 11 million people displaced, in a conflict that shows no signs of coming to an end.