MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-LAVROV-MISTURA Russian bombing in Syria doesn't negate need for political process - Lavrov

Record ID: 135511

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-LAVROV-MISTURA Russian bombing in Syria doesn't negate need for political process - Lavrov
  • Date: 13th October 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 13, 2015) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SHAKING HANDS WITH U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA STAFFAN DE MISTURA MEDIA MEETING BETWEEN LAVROV AND MISTURA IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "We are sure that the quickest launch of a political process according to the general direction laid
  • Embargoed: 28th October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE7ZX47EZ6WOLJVX9EJZT6T026
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday (October 13) that Russian bombing operations in Syria do negate the need for a political solution to the conflict.
    During a meeting in Moscow with the UN's special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, Lavrov said that De Mistura's initiatives met the goals for what he called the unification of all healthy forces.
    "We are sure that the quickest launch of a political process according to the general direction laid out by your office answers the goals of unification of all healthy forces for saving Syria," said Lavrov.
    Russia's air force has made 88 sorties, hitting 86 Islamic State targets in Syria in the last 24 hours, said the country's Defence Ministry.
    "We have underlined many times that our actions after the request by the Syrian leadership to increase the effectiveness of fighting terrorists in Syria do not mean burying in oblivion the necessity for a political process. On the contrary we note the growing importance of supporting your efforts," said Lavrov.
    Staffan de Mistura said that while Russia's military involvement in Syria has changed the dynamic of the situation, there could be no military solution.
    "The Russian military intervention had been definitely a new factor and certainly has changed the dynamic of the whole situation. We have to take that into account and to make sure that at the same time we don't forget the fact that there is no military solution to this conflict. And I think you have been saying it. And we will be discussing the details," said De Mistura.
    Lavrov also criticised U.S. strategy in the conflict on Tuesday, saying that a big part of the United States' arms supplies to the Syrian opposition will fall into the hands of terrorist groups.
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